Imide compound and optical recording media made by using the same

ABSTRACT

An optical recording medium containing one or more compounds selected from imide compounds having a metallocene residue in a recording layer and an imide compound represented by a general formula (1): 
                         
wherein a ring AR represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring residue or a residue formed by combining two or more aromatic ring residues via one or more linking groups; n represents the number of imide groups bonded to the ring AR; A m  represents any one of substituents A 1  to A n  bonded to a nitrogen atom of each imide group; and m represents an integer of from 1 to n, with the proviso that at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of A 1  to A n  is one having at least one substituted or unsubstituted metallocene residue.

This application is a divison of Ser. No. 10/493,034, filed Apr. 19,2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,259,260, which is a 371 of PCT/JP02/10939,filed Oct. 22, 2002.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an optical recording medium, and morespecifically, an optical recording medium capable of writing and readingby a visible laser, a blue laser beam. In addition, the presentinvention relates to a novel imide compound.

BACKGROUND ART

As a recordable optical recording medium corresponding to thespecifications of a compact disk (hereinafter simply referred to as a“CD”), a CD-R (CD-Recordable) has been widely spread. The storagecapacity of the CD-R is about 680 MB. However, with a drastic increaseof the information volume, demands for higher density and larger storagecapacity in an information recording medium have been increased.

As a means for achieving higher density of a recording medium, it isconsidered to decrease a beam spot by using a shorter-wavelength laserin writing and reading and increasing a numerical aperture (N.A.) of anobject lens. As the short-wavelength laser for use in an optical disksystem, red laser beams of 500 to 700 nm, further 630 to 690 nm, morespecifically, 680, 670, 660, 650, and 635 nm have been put to practicaluse. Thus, by virtue of techniques for reducing the wavelength of asemiconductor laser, increasing the numerical aperture of an objectlens, and compressing data, an optical recording medium capable ofrecording a motion picture and large volumetric information has beensuccessfully produced. Examples of optical recording media proposed upto the present include a magneto-optical recording medium, phase changerecording medium, chalcogen oxide-based optical recording medium, andorganic dye-based optical recording medium. Of them, the organicdye-based optical recording medium is considered preferential in view oflow cost and easy processing. In consideration of these circumstances,the one developed as an optical recording medium capable of recordingand regenerating a motion picture with the same quality level as that ofTV and with a higher density than that of CD and as a recordable opticalrecording medium capable of regenerating by a commercially available DVDvideo player or a DVD-ROM player that have been widely used and capableof recording by a red semiconductor laser having an oscillationwavelength of 630 to 690 nm is a recordable digital versatile disc(hereinafter, simply referred to as a “DVD-R”). DVD-R is a write-onceoptical recording medium having a 3.9 or 4.7 GB storage capacity. Inparticular, only recently, a DVD-R medium having a single-side capacityof 4.7 GB has been brought into a market. Such a DVD-R medium alsoemploys a stacked structure, which is formed of a recording layercontaining a cyanine-based dye, azo-based dye, or the like, and areflecting layer, is characterized by a disk structure formed byadhering two substrates of 0.6 mm thick. Regarding such an optical diskhaving satisfactory recording characteristics suitable for thiscapacity, development of a medium applicable to high-speed recording hasbeen aggressively made at present.

Furthermore, it has been estimated that a further higher densityrecording will be desired in future and that the amount of data storedin a single disk will reach up to 15 to 30 GB. To attain such arecording density, a further shorter-wavelength laser will be inevitablyused. Accordingly, as a recording dye suitable for an on-coming organicdye-based optical recording medium, it is desired to develop a dyehaving good recording characteristics within the wavelength range of 300to 500 nm.

In the meantime, regarding a medium attaining high-density recordingmore excellent than DVD-R using an organic dye in a recording layer,Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-302310 discloses that a recordingdensity having a storage capacity of 8 GB or more is attained by using alaser having an oscillation wavelength of 680 nm or less. Thispublication suggests that a large storage capacity of 8 GB or moreshould be attained by converging laser light of 680 nm or less throughan object lens having a high numerical aperture of 0.7 or more via alight transmission layer of 10 to 177 μm thick.

On the other hand, only in recent years, as a blue laser having anoscillation wavelength of 390 to 430 nm, a laser of 410 nm using aGaN-based material and an SHG laser of 425 nm wavelength, which isobtained by combining a semiconductor laser and an optical wave guideelement, have been developed (for example, January 26 Issue of NikkeiElectronics, No. 708, p. 117, 1998). Thus, development of bluesemiconductor laser applicable dyes suitably used in such a laser is nowproceeding.

Furthermore, Nichia Corporation started supply of a GaN-basedsemiconductor laser emitting bluish-violet light having an oscillationwavelength of 400 to 410 nm from the beginning of 1999. Since then,studies on a medium having a high-density storage capacity of 15 GB ormore per side (hereinafter referred to as an “HD-DVD-R medium”) andcapable of recording a motion picture having the same image-qualitylevel as that of a high definition television (HDTV) for about 2 hourshave been started. Such an HD-DVD-R medium is capable of recordingmotion pictures for about 6 hours with the same image-quality level asthose currently on air and therefore attracted attention also as a newrecording medium in place of a home VTR. Already now, technical outlineof a proposal for a medium using an inorganic recording film of a phasechange system has been introduced in September 6 Issue of NikkeiElectronics, No. 751, p. 117 (1999).

The organic dye compounds for use in recording by a blue laser of 400 to500 nm currently proposed include cyanine-based dye compounds describedin Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 4-74690, 6-40161, 2001-232945,2001-246851, 2001-260536, and 2001-301333; porphyrin-based dye compoundsdescribed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 7-304256, 7-304257,8-127174, 11-334207, 2001-39032, 2001-80217, 2001-84594, 2001-138633,2001-138634, 2001-143317, 2001-180117, 2001-181524, and 2001-287462;polyene-based dye compounds described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos.4-78576 and 4-89279; azo-based dye compounds described in JapanesePatent Laid-Open Nos. 11-334204,11-334205 and 2001-271001;dicyanovinylphenyl dye compounds described in Japanese Patent Laid-OpenNo. 11-304206; coumarin compounds described in Japanese Patent Laid-OpenNos. 2000-43423 and 2001-96918; pyrimidine compounds described inJapanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-163799; naphthalocyanine compoundsdescribed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-228028; five-memberedhetero ring compounds described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.2000-335110; bis-azole compounds described in Japanese Patent Laid-OpenNo. 2000-343824; amino pyridine compounds described in Japanese PatentLaid-Open No. 2000-343825; bis-pyridinium compounds described inJapanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-63211; oxonol compounds described inJapanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2001-71638 and 2001-328351; styrylcompounds described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2001-71639 and2002-2110; amino butadiene compounds described in Japanese PatentLaid-Open No. 2001-146074; metal chelate compounds described in JapanesePatent Laid-Open Nos. 2001-158862, 2001-214084, and 2002-36727; quinoneor quinodimethane compounds described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.2001-232944; hydrazone compounds described in Japanese Patent Laid-OpenNo. 2001-234154; triazine compounds described in Japanese PatentLaid-Open No. 2001-277720; carbostyryl compounds or naphthylidinecompounds described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-287466;condensed heterocyclic compounds described in Japanese Patent Laid-OpenNo. 2001-301329; and stilbene compounds described in Japanese PatentLaid-Open No. 2002-2117.

Further, the optical recording media are proposed including an opticalrecording medium described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-53758,which is formed of two layers: one is a recording layer primarilycontaining a porphyrin-based dye or cyanine-based dye as an organic dyefor forming the recording layer and the other is a metal reflectinglayer primarily containing silver; an optical recording medium describedin Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-203729 which attains writing in 2wavelength regions by devising the constitution of a medium, that is,using a medium having a blue laser responsive dye layer containing acyanine-based dye responsible to a blue laser and a red laser responsivedye layer; an optical recording medium using an indigoid-based dyecompound described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-78239 whichattaining writing in two wavelength regions by mixing two types of dyes,that is, a dye for a blue laser and a dye for a red laser; an opticalrecording medium using a cyanoethene-based dye described in JapanesePatent Laid-Open No. 11-105423; and an optical recording medium using asquarylium-based dye compound described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.11-110815.

On the other hand, as examples for using an organic dye film for writingwithin the blue region of 400 to 500 nm, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos.7-304256 and 7-304257 have suggested to mix a molecular compoundcoordinated to the central metal of a porphyrin-based compound and apolymer or a polymer having a molecular structure having a central metalcoordinated as a side chain, thereby shifting the Soret zone of theporphyrin-based compound toward a long wavelength range so as tocorrespond to an Ar laser of 488 nm, and simultaneously to reducemanufacturing cost by achieving film formation by spin coating.Furthermore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 4-78576 and 4-89279 disclosepolyene-based color compounds, which are, however, poor in lightstability according to the studies by the present inventors, andrequired some modifications, for example, blending of a quencher or thelike, to put them to practical use.

As the recent circumstances, since the prospect of putting abluish-violet semiconductor laser of 400 to 410 nm wavelength topractical use is given, development of a high-capacity recordableoptical recording medium using the laser has been aggressively made andparticularly development of dyes having excellent light stability andhigh-speed recording characteristics has been desired.

However, the optical recording media mentioned above are actuallyinsufficient to be subjected to the laser light having a wavelength of400 to 410 nm. More specifically, the media using the organic dyesmentioned above have a problem in that when recorded signal data is readout, the read-out of a signal is not satisfactory performed, since theratio of carrier to noise (C/N) is not always proper. Therefore,development of an optical recording medium capable of overcoming thisproblem and writing and reading high-density data by a laser beam of 400to 410 nm wavelength has been urgent need.

As a result of studies conducted by the present inventors on recordingmaterials suitable for an optical recording medium, the following twofindings were obtained.

(1) Since a large capacity optical recording medium uses a laser beam of300 to 500 nm in writing and reading data, it is important to controlthe absorption coefficient, refractive index, and reflectivity of therecording medium in the vicinity of the laser wavelength.

(2) As mentioned above, although large-capacity optical recording mediausing the laser have been aggressively developed and particularly thedevelopment of a dye having excellent light stability and goodhigh-speed recording characteristics has been desired, the dye compoundsmentioned above have not yet satisfied recording characteristics as arecording material capable of reading and writing data with a laser beamof the wavelength range and thus still need to be improved at present.Furthermore, as a favorable characteristic of a dye for use in a mediummanufactured by a coating method, such as spin coating, which is asimple method for forming a recording film, the high solubility of thedye to a coating solvent must be considered.

Also, in general, to increase the storage capacity, higher-densityrecording must be performed. To attain this, it is necessary to increasethe numerical aperture of an object lens in order to converge an opticalbeam for use in recording and generate a shorter-wavelength laser by anoptical system. However, when an optical beam is converged, the minimumbeam diameter is determined by its diffraction-limit.

In the meantime, since writing is made when the intensity of beamexceeds a certain threshold, the record pit obtained is smaller than thebeam spot converged, as shown in FIG. 1( a). The periphery of the recordpit corresponds to the skirts of the intensity peak. Under the presentcircumstances where a further shorter wavelength laser is developed, aphotochemical reaction in the recording layer is facilitated even in theperiphery of the record pit. In particular, in the wavelength range ofthe aforementioned bluish-violet laser, a photochemical reaction of anorganic compound is likely to occur, producing a problem: a pit edge isdegraded during writing time, decreasing signal characteristics. Toexplain more specifically, recoding data which must be essentiallywritten in response to a rectangular wave [indicated by a solid line inFIG. 1( b)], as shown in FIG. 1( b), results in a broader tailed waveform (indicated by a broken line in FIG. 1( b) due to the deteriorationof the pit edge. Furthermore, when regeneration is performed by the samebluish-violet laser wavelength as in recording, a photo reaction isfacilitated even by weak light irradiation such as regeneration light.As a result, deterioration proceeds every time regeneration isperformed. Against such a problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos.7-304256 and 7-304257 take measures by varying the wavelength ofrecording light from that of regeneration light, virtually, using alonger wavelength light as regeneration light than recording light. As aresult, the requirement for high-density recording has not yetsufficiently satisfied up to present. Furthermore, using recording lightand regeneration light different in wavelength means that a recordingdevice and a regeneration device must be separately prepared or meansthat two optical systems and control systems must be provided in asingle apparatus, with the result that such an optical recording mediumis limited in use and entails enlargement of the apparatus, increase ofcost, and losing general versatility. Furthermore, in a conventionaloptical recording medium such as CD-R, on/off of writing can bedetermined based on whether or not reaching thermal threshold onphysical characteristics such as melting point, sublimation point, phasetransition point or thermo-decomposition point of an organic dye film.However, such a contrast is made indistinctive by optical deteriorationdue to excitation of a bluish-violet laser. In particular, in ahigh-density recording system in which recording pits must be formedsmaller than that of an optical beam, there is a possibility that thequality of a recording signal may significantly decrease.

Now, as a case where an organic dye film is used in recording in thevisible light range of 400 to 700 nm, Published Japanese translations ofPCT international publication No. 2002-501497 describes a writable anderasable optical recording medium using a perylene-based compound.Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-6645 describes a laser beam of620 to 690 nm wavelength used on a medium using a perylene compoundanalogue in the recording layer. However, it was found that thesecompounds are still insufficient with respect to light stability andsignal characteristics when a bluish-violet laser of 400 to 410 nmwavelength is used for writing.

Also, as an optical recording medium using an organic dye, on whichrecording can be made by a laser of 400 to 500 nm wavelength, JapanesePatent Laid-Open No. 2000-113504 describes an optical recording mediumusing a naphthalene imide compound. However, it was found that thecompound was still unsatisfactory in light stability and the recordingmedium thus required further improvement.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical recordingmedium which has a recording layer suitable for very high densityrecording and to which writing and reading can be satisfactorilyperformed by a laser beam in the wavelength range of 300 to 900 nm andparticularly a bluish-violet laser beam selected from the wavelengthrange of 400 to 410 nm, and also to provide a novel compound preferablyused in the optical recording medium.

The present inventors have conducted intensive studies with a view tosolving the aforementioned problems, with the result that they haveaccomplished the present invention. More specifically, the presentinvention provides:

(1) An optical recording medium containing one or more compoundsselected from imide compounds having a metallocene residue in arecording layer;

(2) An optical recording medium in which one or more compounds areselected from imide compounds in which a nitrogen atom of at least oneimide group is substituted by a substituent having a metallocene residueand contained in a recording layer;

(3) An optical recording medium in which an imide compound isrepresented by a general formula (1)

wherein a ring AR represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromaticring residue or a residue formed by combining two or more aromatic ringresidues via one or more linking groups; n represents the number ofimide groups bonded to the ring AR; A^(m) represents any one ofsubstituents A¹ to A^(n) bonded to a nitrogen atom of each imide group;and m represents an integer of from 1 to n, with the proviso that atleast one substituent selected from the group consisting of A¹ to A^(n)is one having at least one substituted or unsubstituted metalloceneresidue;

(4) An optical recording medium in which the at least one substituentselected from the group consisting of A¹ to A^(n) is a substituted orunsubstituted aromatic ring group having a substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocene residue;

(5) An optical recording medium according to the aforementioned (4) inwhich the substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring group is asubstituted or unsubstituted phenyl group;

(6) An optical recording medium in which an imide compound isrepresented by a general formula (2):

wherein a ring AR¹ represents an aromatic ring residue or a residueformed by combining two or more aromatic ring residues via one or moreone linking groups; n¹ and n² each independently represent 0 or 1; A¹¹,A²¹ and A³¹ each represent a substituent bonded to a nitrogen atom ofeach imide group; and at least one substituent selected from the groupconsisting of A¹¹, A²¹ and A³¹ is one having one or more substituted orunsubstituted metallocene residue;

(7) An optical recording medium in which the at least one substituentselected from the group consisting of A¹¹ to A³¹ is a substituted orunsubstituted aromatic ring group having a substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocene residue;

(8) An optical recording medium in which a substituted or unsubstitutedaromatic ring group is a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group;

(9) An optical recording medium in which an imide compound isrepresented by a general formula (3);

wherein R¹, R², R¹¹ to R¹⁵, and R²¹ to R²⁵ each independently representa hydrogen or halogen atom; a group selected from nitro, cyano,hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaromatic ring, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, substituted orunsubstituted amino, substituted or unsubstituted acyl, substituted orunsubstituted acyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aminocarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkenylthio, substituted orunsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxycarbonyl, heteroarylthio, orsubstituted or unsubstituted metallocenyl; or, in a combination of R¹¹to R¹⁵ and/or a combination of R²¹ to R²⁵, two or more substituentsselected from each of the combinations may independently combine via alinking group within the same combination to form a cyclic structuretogether with carbon atoms to which they are attached; G⁴¹ and G⁴² eachrepresent a bivalent linking group composed of at least one selectedfrom a single bond, substituted or unsubstituted bivalent aliphatichydrocarbon, or substituted or unsubstituted bivalent aromatic ring; n⁴represents 0 or 1; with the proviso that at least one of R¹ and R²represents a group in which a substituted or unsubstituted metalloceneresidue bonds to the nitrogen atom of the imide group via a bivalentlinking group composed of at least one selected from substituted orunsubstituted bivalent aliphatic hydrocarbon, or substituted orunsubstituted bivalent aromatic ring;

(10) The optical recording medium according to any one of (1) to (8) inwhich an imide compound is represented by a general formula (4)

wherein R³, R⁴, R³¹ to R³³, and R⁴¹ to R⁴³ each independently representa hydrogen or halogen atom; a group selected from nitro, cyano,hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaromatic ring, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, substituted orunsubstituted amino, substituted or unsubstituted acyl, substituted orunsubstituted acyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aminocarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkenylthio, substituted orunsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxycarbonyl, heteroarylthio, orsubstituted or unsubstituted metallocenyl; or, in a combination of R³¹to R³³ and/or a combination of R⁴¹ to R⁴³, two or more substituentsselected from each of the combinations may independently combine via alinking group within the same combination to form a cyclic structuretogether with carbon atoms to which they are attached; G⁵¹ and G⁵²represent a bivalent linking group composed of at least one selectedfrom a single bond, substituted or unsubstituted bivalent aliphatichydrocarbon, or substituted or unsubstituted bivalent aromatic ring; n⁵represents 0 or 1; with the proviso that at least one of R³ and R⁴represents a group in which a substituted or unsubstituted metalloceneresidue bonds to the nitrogen atom of the imide group via a bivalentlinking group composed of at least one selected from a substituted orunsubstituted bivalent aliphatic hydrocarbon, or substituted orunsubstituted bivalent aromatic ring;

(11) An optical recording medium in which an imide compound isrepresented by a general formula (5)

wherein R⁵⁰¹ to R⁵¹⁰ each independently represent a hydrogen or halogenatom; a group selected from nitro, cyano, hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring, substituted orunsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxy,substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedalkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted aralkylthio, substituted orunsubstituted arylthio, substituted or unsubstituted amino, substitutedor unsubstituted acyl, substituted or unsubstituted acyloxy, substitutedor unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aminocarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenylthio, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted orunsubstituted heteroaryloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedheteroaryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroarylthio, orsubstituted or unsubstituted metallocenyl; or, in a combination of R⁵⁰¹to R⁵¹⁰, two or more substituents selected from the combination mayindependently combine via a linking group to form a cyclic structuretogether with carbon atoms to which they are attached; R⁵ represents agroup in which a substituted or unsubstituted metallocene residue bondsto the nitrogen atom of the imide group via a bivalent linking groupcomposed of at least one selected from a substituted or unsubstitutedbivalent aliphatic hydrocarbon, or substituted or unsubstituted bivalentaromatic ring; and X¹ and X² represent an integer of 0 to 2;

(12) An optical recording medium in which an imide compound isrepresented by a general formula (6)

wherein R⁶⁰¹ to R⁶⁰⁸ each independently represent a hydrogen or halogenatom; a group selected from nitro, cyano, hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring, substituted orunsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxy,substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedalkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted aralkylthio, substituted orunsubstituted arylthio, substituted or unsubstituted amino, substitutedor unsubstituted acyl, substituted or unsubstituted acyloxy, substitutedor unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aminocarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenylthio, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted orunsubstituted heteroaryloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedheteroaryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroarylthio, orsubstituted or unsubstituted metallocenyl; or, in a combination of R⁶⁰¹to R⁶⁰⁴ and/or a combination of R⁶⁰⁵ to R⁶⁰⁸, two or more substituentsselected from each of the combinations may independently combine via alinking group within the same combination to form a cyclic structuretogether with carbon atoms to which they are attached; R⁶¹ and R⁶²represent a group in which a substituted or unsubstituted metalloceneresidue bonds to the nitrogen atom of the imide group via a bivalentlinking group composed of at least one selected from a substituted orunsubstituted bivalent aliphatic hydrocarbon, or substituted orunsubstituted bivalent aromatic ring; and X³ and X⁴ represent an integerof 0 to 2;

(13) An optical recording medium in which an imide compound is anaphthalene diimide compound represented by a general formula (7):

wherein R⁷⁰¹ to R⁷¹⁴ each independently represent a hydrogen or halogenatom; a group selected from nitro, cyano, hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring, substituted orunsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxy,substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedalkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted aralkylthio, substituted orunsubstituted arylthio, substituted or unsubstituted amino, substitutedor unsubstituted acyl, substituted or unsubstituted acyloxy, substitutedor unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aminocarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenylthio, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted orunsubstituted heteroaryloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedheteroaryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroarylthio, orsubstituted or unsubstituted metallocenyl; or, in a combination of R⁷⁰¹to R⁷⁰⁵ and/or a combination of R⁷⁰⁶ to R⁷¹⁰, and/or combination of R⁷¹¹to R⁷¹⁵, two or more substituents selected from each of the combinationsmay independently combine via a linking group within the samecombination to form a cyclic structure together with carbon atoms towhich they are attached, with the proviso that any one or more groupsselected from R⁷⁰¹ to R⁷¹⁰ represent substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocenyl group.

(14) An optical recording medium of the aforementioned compound (7) inwhich any one or more groups of R⁷¹¹ to R⁷¹⁴ are halogen atoms;

(15) An optical recording medium in which an imide compound has aquinazoline residue;

(16) An optical recording medium in which an imide compound isrepresented by a general formula (8) as one of tautomeric structures:

wherein a ring AR² and ring AR³ represent a substituted or unsubstitutedaromatic ring residue or a residue formed by combining two or morearomatic ring residues via one or more linking groups; R⁸ represents ahydrogen atom or a substituent; n⁸ represents the number of imide groupsbonded to the ring AR² and/or ring AR³; B^(b) represents a substituentof B¹ to B^(n8) bonded to a nitrogen atom of each imide group; and brepresents an integer of from 1 to n⁸, with the proviso that at leastone substituent selected from B¹ to B^(n8) is one having one or moresubstituted or unsubstituted metallocene residues.

(17) An optical recording medium in which an imide compound has aquinazoline-4-on residue represented by a general formula (9) as one oftautomeric structures:

wherein a ring AR⁴ represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromaticring residue or a residue formed by combining two or more aromatic ringresidues via one or more linking groups; R⁹ represents hydrogen,substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyl, or substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring; R⁹⁰¹ to R⁹⁰⁴each independently represent a hydrogen or halogen atom; a groupselected from nitro, cyano, hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxyl, substituted orunsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, substitutedor unsubstituted aromatic ring, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedaryloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted orunsubstituted aralkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio,substituted or unsubstituted amino, substituted or unsubstituted acyl,substituted or unsubstituted acyloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedalkoxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted alkenyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaminocarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl, substituted orunsubstituted alkenyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkenylthio,substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstitutedheteroaryloxy, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxycarbonyl,heteroarylthio, or substituted or unsubstituted metallocenyl; or, in acombination of R⁹⁰¹ to R⁹⁰⁴, two or more substituents selected from thecombination may independently combine via a linking group to form acyclic structure together with carbon atoms to which they are attached;and R⁹¹ represents a group in which a substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocene residue bonds to the nitrogen atom of the imide group via abivalent linking group composed of at least one group selected from asubstituted or unsubstituted bivalent aliphatic hydrocarbon, orsubstituted or unsubstituted bivalent aromatic ring;

(18) An optical recording medium in which an imide compound has aquinazoline-4-on residue represented by a general formula (10) as one oftautomeric structures:

wherein R¹⁰⁰ represents hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl or substituted or unsubstitutedaromatic ring; R¹⁰¹ to R¹¹¹ each independently represent a hydrogen orhalogen atom; a group selected from nitro, cyano, hydroxyl, mercapto,carboxyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring,substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy, substituted orunsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted aralkylthio,substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, substituted or unsubstitutedamino, substituted or unsubstituted acyl, substituted or unsubstitutedacyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted aminocarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxy, substituted orunsubstituted alkenylthio, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl,substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedheteroaryloxycarbonyl, heteroarylthio, or substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocenyl; or, in a combination of R¹⁰¹ to R¹⁰⁵, and/or a combinationof R¹⁰⁶ to R¹⁰⁹, two or more substituents selected from each of thecombinations may independently combine via a linking group in the samecombination to form a cyclic structure together with carbon atoms towhich they are attached, with the proviso that any one or more groupsselected from R¹⁰¹ to R¹⁰⁵ represent substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocenyl groups;

(19) An optical recording medium in which an imide compound has aquinazoline-4-on residue represented by a general formula (11) as one oftautomeric structures:

wherein R²⁰⁰ represents hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, or substituted or unsubstitutedaromatic ring; R²⁰¹ to R²¹³ each independently represent a hydrogen orhalogen atom; a group selected from nitro, cyano, hydroxyl, mercapto,carboxyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring,substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy, substituted orunsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted aralkylthio,substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, substituted or unsubstitutedamino, substituted or unsubstituted acyl, substituted or unsubstitutedacyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted aminocarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxy, substituted orunsubstituted alkenylthio, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl,substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedheteroaryloxycarbonyl, heteroarylthio, or substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocenyl; or, in a combination of R²⁰¹ to R²⁰⁵, and/or a combinationof R²⁰⁶ to R²⁰⁹, and/or a combination of R²¹⁰ to R²¹¹, and/or acombination of R²¹² to R²¹³, two or more substituents selected from eachof the combinations may independently combine via a linking group in thesame combination to form a cyclic structure together with carbon atomsto which they are attached, with the proviso that any one or more groupsselected from R²⁰¹ to R²⁰⁵ represent substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocenyl group;

(20) An optical recording medium capable of writing and reading by alaser beam selected from the wavelength range of 300 to 900 nm;

(21) An optical recording medium capable of writing and reading by alaser beam selected from the wavelength range of 390 to 430 nm;

(22) An optical recording medium capable of writing and reading by alaser beam selected from the wavelength range of 400 to 410 nm;

(23) An imide compound represented by a general formula (1):

wherein a ring AR represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromaticring residue or a residue formed by combining two or more aromatic ringresidues via one or more linking groups; n represents the number ofimide groups bonded to the ring AR; A^(m) represents any one ofsubstituents A¹ to A^(n) bonded to a nitrogen atom of each imide group;and m represents an integer of from 1 to n, with the proviso that atleast one substituent selected from the group consisting of A¹ to A^(n)is one having at least one substituted or unsubstituted metalloceneresidue;

(24) A compound of the formula (1) in which the at least one substituentselected from substituents A¹ to A^(n) is a substituted or unsubstitutedaromatic ring group having a substituted or unsubstituted metalloceneresidue;

(25) A compound of the formula (1) in which the substituted orunsubstituted aromatic ring group is a substituted or unsubstitutedphenyl;

(26) An imide compound represented by a formula (2):

wherein a ring AR¹ represents an aromatic ring residue or a residueformed by combining two or more aromatic ring residues via one or moreone linking groups; n¹ and n² each independently represent 0 or 1; A¹¹,A²¹ and A³¹ each represent a substituent bonded to a nitrogen atom ofeach imide group; and at least one substituent selected from the groupconsisting of A¹¹, A²¹ and A³¹ is one having one or more substituted orunsubstituted metallocene residue;

(27) A compound of the formula (2) in which the at least one substituentselected from substituents A¹¹, A²¹ and A³¹ is a substituted orunsubstituted aromatic ring group having a substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocene residue;

(28) A compound of the formula (2) in which the substituted orunsubstituted aromatic ring group is a substituted or unsubstitutedphenyl;

(29) An imide compound represented by a formula (3):

wherein R¹, R², R¹¹ to R¹⁵, and R²¹ to R²⁵ each independently representa hydrogen or halogen atom; a group selected from nitro, cyano,hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaromatic ring, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, substituted orunsubstituted amino, substituted or unsubstituted acyl, substituted orunsubstituted acyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aminocarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkenylthio, substituted orunsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxycarbonyl, heteroarylthio, orsubstituted or unsubstituted metallocenyl; or, in a combination of R¹¹to R¹⁵ and/or a combination of R²¹ to R²⁵, two or more substituentsselected from each of the combinations may independently combine via alinking group within the same combination to form a cyclic structuretogether with carbon atoms to which they are attached; G⁴¹ and G⁴² eachrepresent a bivalent linking group composed of at least one selectedfrom a single bond, substituted or unsubstituted bivalent aliphatichydrocarbon, or substituted or unsubstituted bivalent aromatic ring; n⁴represents 0 or 1; with the proviso that at least one of R¹ and R²represents a group in which a substituted or unsubstituted metalloceneresidue bonds to the nitrogen atom of the imide group via a bivalentlinking group composed of at least one selected from substituted orunsubstituted bivalent aliphatic hydrocarbon, or substituted orunsubstituted bivalent aromatic ring;

(30) An imide compound represented by a general formula (4)

wherein R³, R⁴, R³¹ to R³³, and R⁴¹ to R⁴³ each independently representa hydrogen or halogen atom; a group selected from nitro, cyano,hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaromatic ring, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, substituted orunsubstituted amino, substituted or unsubstituted acyl, substituted orunsubstituted acyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aminocarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkenylthio, substituted orunsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxycarbonyl, heteroarylthio, orsubstituted or unsubstituted metallocenyl; or, in a combination of R³¹to R³³ and/or a combination of R⁴¹ to R⁴³, two or more substituentsselected from each of the combinations may independently combine via alinking group within the same combination to form a cyclic structuretogether with carbon atoms to which they are attached; G⁵¹ and G⁵²represent a bivalent linking group composed of at least one selectedfrom a single bond, substituted or unsubstituted bivalent aliphatichydrocarbon, or substituted or unsubstituted bivalent aromatic ring; n⁵represents 0 or 1; with the proviso that at least one of R³ and R⁴represents a group in which a substituted or unsubstituted metalloceneresidue bonds to the nitrogen atom of the imide group via a bivalentlinking group composed of at least one selected from a substituted orunsubstituted bivalent aliphatic hydrocarbon, or substituted orunsubstituted bivalent aromatic ring;

(31) An imide compound represented by a formula (5)

wherein R⁵⁰¹ to R⁵¹⁰ each independently represent a hydrogen or halogenatom; a group selected from nitro, cyano, hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring, substituted orunsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxy,substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedalkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted aralkylthio, substituted orunsubstituted arylthio, substituted or unsubstituted amino, substitutedor unsubstituted acyl, substituted or unsubstituted acyloxy, substitutedor unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aminocarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenylthio, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted orunsubstituted heteroaryloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedheteroaryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroarylthio, orsubstituted or unsubstituted metallocenyl; or, in a combination of R⁵⁰¹to R⁵¹⁰, two or more substituents selected from the combination mayindependently combine via a linking group to form a cyclic structuretogether with carbon atoms to which they are attached; R⁵ represents agroup in which a substituted or unsubstituted metallocene residue bondsto the nitrogen atom of the imide group via a bivalent linking groupcomposed of at least one selected from a substituted or unsubstitutedbivalent aliphatic hydrocarbon, or substituted or unsubstituted bivalentaromatic ring; and X¹ and X² represent an integer of 0 to 2;

(32) An imide compound represented by a formula (6)

wherein R⁶⁰¹ to R⁶⁰⁸ each independently represent a hydrogen or halogenatom; a group selected from nitro, cyano, hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring, substituted orunsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxy,substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedalkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted aralkylthio, substituted orunsubstituted arylthio, substituted or unsubstituted amino, substitutedor unsubstituted acyl, substituted or unsubstituted acyloxy, substitutedor unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aminocarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenylthio, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted orunsubstituted heteroaryloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedheteroaryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroarylthio, orsubstituted or unsubstituted metallocenyl; or, in a combination of R⁶⁰¹to R⁶⁰⁴ and/or a combination of R⁶⁰⁵ to R⁶⁰⁸, two or more substituentsselected from each of the combinations may independently combine via alinking group within the same combination to form a cyclic structuretogether with carbon atoms to which they are attached; R⁶¹ and R⁶²represent a group in which a substituted or unsubstituted metalloceneresidue bonds to the nitrogen atom of the imide group via a bivalentlinking group composed of at least one selected from a substituted orunsubstituted bivalent aliphatic hydrocarbon, or substituted orunsubstituted bivalent aromatic ring; and X³ and X⁴ represent an integerof 0 to 2;

(33) An imide compound represented by a formula (7)

wherein R⁷⁰¹ to R⁷¹⁴ each independently represent a hydrogen or halogenatom; a group selected from nitro, cyano, hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring, substituted orunsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxy,substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedalkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted aralkylthio, substituted orunsubstituted arylthio, substituted or unsubstituted amino, substitutedor unsubstituted acyl, substituted or unsubstituted acyloxy, substitutedor unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aminocarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenylthio, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted orunsubstituted heteroaryloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedheteroaryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroarylthio, orsubstituted or unsubstituted metallocenyl; or, in a combination of R⁷⁰¹to R⁷⁰⁵ and/or a combination of R⁷⁰⁶ to R⁷¹⁰, and/or combination of R⁷¹¹to R⁷¹⁵, two or more substituents selected from each of the combinationsmay independently combine via a linking group within the samecombination to form a cyclic structure together with carbon atoms towhich they are attached, with the proviso that any one or more groupsselected from R⁷⁰¹ to R⁷¹⁰ represent substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocenyl group.

(34) A compound of the formula (7) in which any one or more groups ofR⁷¹¹ to R⁷¹⁴ is a halogen atom.

(35) An imide compound having a quinazoline residue.

(36) A compound represented by a general formula (8):

wherein a ring AR² and ring AR³ represent a substituted or unsubstitutedaromatic ring residue or a residue formed by combining two or morearomatic ring residues via one or more linking groups; R⁸ represents ahydrogen atom or a substituent; n⁸ represents the number of imide groupsbonded to the ring AR² and/or ring AR³; B^(b) represents a substituentof B¹ to B^(n8) bonded to a nitrogen atom of each imide group; and brepresents an integer of from 1 to n⁸, with the proviso that at leastone substituent selected from B¹ to B^(n8) is one having one or moresubstituted or unsubstituted metallocene residues.

(37) A compound having a quinazoline-4-on residue represented by ageneral formula (9) as one of tautomeric structures:

wherein a ring AR⁴ represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromaticring residue or a residue formed by combining two or more aromatic ringresidues via one or more linking groups; R⁹ represents hydrogen,substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyl, or substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring; R⁹⁰¹ to R⁹⁰⁴each independently represent a hydrogen or halogen atom; a groupselected from nitro, cyano, hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxyl, substituted orunsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, substitutedor unsubstituted aromatic ring, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedaryloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted orunsubstituted aralkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio,substituted or unsubstituted amino, substituted or unsubstituted acyl,substituted or unsubstituted acyloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedalkoxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted alkenyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaminocarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl, substituted orunsubstituted alkenyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkenylthio,substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstitutedheteroaryloxy, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxycarbonyl,heteroarylthio, or substituted or unsubstituted metallocenyl; or, in acombination of R⁹⁰¹ to R⁹⁰⁴, two or more substituents selected from thecombination may independently combine via a linking group to form acyclic structure together with carbon atoms to which they are attached;and R⁹¹ represents a group in which a substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocene residue bonds to the nitrogen atom of the imide group via abivalent linking group composed of at least one group selected from asubstituted or unsubstituted bivalent aliphatic hydrocarbon, orsubstituted or unsubstituted bivalent aromatic ring;

(38) A compound having a quinazoline-4-on residue represented by ageneral formula (10) as one of tautomeric structures:

wherein R¹⁰⁰ represents hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl or substituted or unsubstitutedaromatic ring; R¹⁰¹ to R¹¹¹ each independently represent a hydrogen orhalogen atom; a group selected from nitro, cyano, hydroxyl, mercapto,carboxyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring,substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy, substituted orunsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted aralkylthio,substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, substituted or unsubstitutedamino, substituted or unsubstituted acyl, substituted or unsubstitutedacyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted aminocarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxy, substituted orunsubstituted alkenylthio, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl,substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedheteroaryloxycarbonyl, heteroarylthio, or substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocenyl; or, in a combination of R¹⁰¹ to R¹⁰⁵, and/or a combinationof R¹⁰⁶ to R¹⁰⁹, two or more substituents selected from each of thecombinations may independently combine via a linking group in the samecombination to form a cyclic structure together with carbon atoms towhich they are attached, with the proviso that any one or more groupsselected from R¹⁰¹ to R¹⁰⁵ represent substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocenyl groups; and

(39) A compound having a quinazoline-4-on residue represented by ageneral formula (11) as one of tautomeric structures:

wherein R²⁰⁰ represents hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, or substituted or unsubstitutedaromatic ring; R²⁰¹ to R²¹³ each independently represent a hydrogen orhalogen atom; a group selected from nitro, cyano, hydroxyl, mercapto,carboxyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring,substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy, substituted orunsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted aralkylthio,substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, substituted or unsubstitutedamino, substituted or unsubstituted acyl, substituted or unsubstitutedacyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted aminocarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxy, substituted orunsubstituted alkenylthio, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl,substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedheteroaryloxycarbonyl, heteroarylthio, or substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocenyl; or, in a combination of R²⁰¹ to R²⁰⁵, and/or a combinationof R²⁰⁶ to R²⁰⁹, and/or a combination of R²¹⁰ to R²¹¹, and/or acombination of R²¹² to R²¹³, two or more substituents selected from eachof the combinations may independently combine via a linking group in thesame combination to form a cyclic structure together with carbon atomsto which they are attached, with the proviso that any one or more groupsselected from R²⁰¹ to R²⁰⁵ represent substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocenyl group.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an object of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a structure of an optical recordingmedium of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing another structure of an opticalrecording medium of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing still another structure of an opticalrecording medium of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a further structure of an opticalrecording medium of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing still a further structure of anoptical recording medium of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing even a further structure of anoptical recording medium of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an optical recording mediumcharacterized by containing an imide compound of the present inventionin a recording layer thereof, and a novel optical recording mediumcapable of writing and reading by a laser beam selected from thewavelength range of 300 to 900 nm, particularly from 390 to 430 nm, andmore particularly from 400 to 410 nm and a novel imide compound.

The optical recording medium according to the present invention is onecapable of writing and reading data. However, herein, as an appropriateexample, an optical recording medium of the present invention having arecording layer and a reflecting layer on a substrate will be explained.Note that, in the following explanation, as an optical recording medium,an optical disk, which has a supporting substrate having guide groovesand a reflecting film and a recording layer containing an organic dye asa main component formed on the guide grooves, to which a laser beam of awavelength of 300 to 500 nm is applied to perform read and write of asignal, will be described. However, the optical recording medium of thepresent invention is not limited to such a structure and constitution,and may be applied to the media of a card-form, sheet-form and otherforms, and having no reflecting layer, and applied to writing andreading performed by a shorter wavelength laser which will be developedin future.

An optical recording medium of the present invention has, for example,either a four layered structure in which a substrate 1, a recordinglayer 2, a reflecting layer 3 and a protecting layer 4 are sequentiallystacked as shown in FIG. 2 or a bonded structure as shown in FIG. 3.More specifically, the recording layer 2 is formed on the substrate 1and the reflecting layer 3 is formed on and in close contact with therecording layer 2. Further on the resultant structure, the protectinglayer 4 is bonded with an adhesion layer 5 interposed between them. Notethat another layer may be present under or on the recording layer 2 andanother layer may be present on the reflecting layer 3. Alternatively,as shown in FIG. 4, the substrate 1, reflecting layer 3, recording layer2, and protecting layer 4 are sequentially stacked and read and writemay be performed from the side of the protecting layer. As described inJapanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-326435, a medium may have a structurein which the thickness of a light transmission layer is defined based onthe numerical aperture (N.A.) of the optical system and the wavelength λof a laser. Furthermore, an optical recording medium of the presentinvention may have a structure having two or more recording layers ifnecessary as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-203729.

As an example where the present invention is applied to an optical disk,a structure as shown in FIG. 5 may be mentioned in which a substrate 11,a recoding layer 12, a reflecting layer 13 and a protecting layer 14 arestacked in this order and further a dummy substrate 15 is bonded on theprotecting layer 14 also serving as an adhesion layer. Of course, astructure having no substrate 15 may be used and other layers may bepresent between the substrate 11 and the recording layer 12, between therecording layer 12 and the reflecting layer 13, between the reflectinglayer 13 and the protecting layer 14, and between the protecting layer14 and the dummy substrate 15. In the optical disk of FIG. 5, write andread may be performed from the side of the substrate 11.

Furthermore, as another embodiment, the constitution disclosed inJapanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-302310 may be used. For example, asshown in FIG. 6, on the supporting substrate 11′ having guide groovestherein, a reflecting layer 13′ and a recording layer 12′ containing anorganic dye as a main component are stacked in this order. On therecording layer 12′, a light transmission layer 15′ is formed via atransparent protecting layer 14′, which is optionally formed on therecording layer 12′. Write and read are performed from the side of thelight transmission layer 15′. Note that guide grooves may be converselyformed on the side of the light transmission layer 15′ and thetransparent protecting layer 14′, recording layer 12′ and reflectinglayer 13′ may be stacked on the light transmission layer 15′ and adheredto the supporting substrate 11′.

Alternatively, as another embodiment, the structure disclosed inJapanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-175645 is known. For example, asshown in FIG. 7, on a supporting substrate 21 having guide grooves, arecording layer 22 containing an organic dye as a main component isformed in this order. On the recording layer 22, a nitride layer 23 andan oxide layer 24 are sequentially formed, thereby forming a dielectriclayer 40. Further, on the dielectric layer 40, a light transmissionlayer 25 is formed by applying an adhesive agent between them, ifnecessary. The write and read of data is performed from the side of thelight transmission layer 25. Note that, the structure may be converselyformed by forming guide grooves on the side of the light transmissionlayer 25, stacking a dielectric layer 40, which is formed bysequentially stacking the oxide layer 24 and the nitride layer 23, andthe recording layer 22 and adhering to the supporting substrate 21. Asdescribed above, an optical recording medium providing an appropriateinitial reflectivity can be obtained by obtaining an optical enhancementeffect due to multiple interference given by forming a dielectric layeron a data recording layer without using a reflecting layer. A compoundof the present invention can be applied to such a medium.

In the present invention, a recording layer is provided on a substrate.The recording layer of the present invention contains at least one typeof imide-based compound according to the present invention, inparticular, a compound represented by a general formula (1), as arecording dye. The recording dye is the one whose thermal decompositionand sublimation can be induced by laser beam irradiation, to cause achange of a recording layer or in the texture (formation of pits),thereby forming a portion varied in reflectivity. An optical recordingmedium of the present invention is capable of writing and reading datawith the wavelength of a recording laser particularly selected from thewavelength range of 300 to 900 nm. More particularly, when a writinglaser wavelength and reading laser wavelength selected from the range of390 to 430 nm, and more particularly, from 400 to 410 nm is applied tothe optical recording medium, good signal characteristics can beobtained.

An imide compound according to the present invention, since it canarbitrarily select the absorbing wavelength by selecting a substituentwhile maintaining the absorption constant, can provide a satisfactoryoptical constant required for the recording layer at the aforementionedlaser wavelength. Furthermore, the imide compound is extremely usefulorganic dye having a high stability to light and excellent stability ofreading light.

The present invention will be described in more detail below.

In an optical recording medium of the present invention, one or moretypes of imide compounds according to the present invention arecontained in the recoding layer. As an imide compound according to thepresent invention, an imide compound having a metallocene residue,preferably, an imide compound having at least one imide group having ametallocene residue may be mentioned. More preferably, a compoundrepresented by the following general formula (1) may be mentioned as apreferable example.

wherein a ring AR represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromaticring residue or a residue formed by combining two or more aromatic ringresidues via one or more linking groups; n represents the number ofimide groups bonded to the ring AR; A^(m) represents any one ofsubstituents A¹ to A^(n) bonded to a nitrogen atom of each imide group;and m represents an integer of from 1 to n, with the proviso that atleast one substituent selected from the group consisting of A¹ to A^(n)is one having at least one substituted or unsubstituted metalloceneresidue.

In the formula, as a ring constituting an aromatic ring residuerepresented by a ring AR, it is preferable to use a substituted orunsubstituted carbocyclic aromatic ring, or substituted or unsubstitutedheterocyclic aromatic ring. It is more preferable to use a substitutedor unsubstituted carbocyclic aromatic ring or substituted orunsubstituted heterocyclic aromatic ring having 3 to 60 carbon atoms,and further preferable to use a substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclicaromatic ring or substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic aromatic ringhaving 3 to 26 carbon atoms.

Specific examples of an aromatic ring represented by a ring AR includecarbocyclic aromatic rings such as benzene, naphthalene, pentalene,indacene, azuren, heptalene, biphenylene, phenanthrene, anthracene,fluoranthene, acenaphthylene, triphenylene, pyrene, chrysene,naphthacene, pleiadene, picene, perylene, pentaphene, pentacene,tetraphenylene, hexaphene, hexacene, rubicene, coronene, trinaphthylene,heptaphene, heptacene, pyranthrene, ovalene, and fullerene; andheterocyclic aromatic rings such as furan, thiophene, pyrrole, pyrazole,imidazole, oxazole, thiazole, pyridine, pyridazine, pyrimidine,pyrazine, quinoline, isoquinoline, quinoxaline, indolizine, indole,indazole, purine, phthalazine, naphthylidine, quinazoline, cinnoline,pteridine, carbazole, carboline, phenanthridine, acridine, perimidine,phenanthroline, phenazine, and furazan.

When a ring AR has a substituent, preferable examples of the substituentinclude a halogen atom and groups such as nitro, cyano, hydroxyl,mercapto, carboxyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring,substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy, substituted orunsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted aralkylthio,substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, substituted or unsubstitutedamino, substituted or unsubstituted acyl, substituted or unsubstitutedacyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted aminocarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxy, substituted orunsubstituted alkenylthio, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl,substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedheteroaryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroarylthio, andsubstituted or unsubstituted metallocenyl.

Examples of a halogen atom to substitute a ring AR include fluorine,chlorine, bromine, and iodine.

Specific examples of a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group tosubstitute a ring AR include unsubstituted alkyl such as methyl, ethyl,n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl,isopentyl, 2-methylbutyl, 1-methylbutyl, neopentyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl,1,1-dimethylpropyl, cyclopentyl, n-hexyl, 4-methylpentyl,3-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 1-methylpentyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl,2,3-dimethylbutyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl,1,2-dimethylbutyl, 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1-ethylbutyl,1,2,2-trimethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trimethylbutyl, 1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl,cyclohexyl, n-heptyl, 2-methylhexyl, 3-methylhexyl, 4-methylhexyl,5-methylhexyl, 2,4-dimethylpentyl, n-octyl, 2-ethylhexyl,2,5-dimethylhexyl, 2,5,5-trimethylpentyl, 2,4-dimethylhexyl,2,2,4-trimethylpentyl, 3,5,5-trimethylhexyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl,4-ethyloctyl, 4-ethyl-4,5-methylhexyl, n-undecyl, n-dodecyl,1,3,5,7-tetraethyloctyl, 4-butyloctyl, 6,6-diethyloctyl, n-tridecyl,6-methyl-4-butyloctyl, n-tetradecyl, n-pentadecyl, 3,5-dimethylheptyl,2,6-dimethylheptyl, 2,4-dimethylheptyl, 2,2,5,5-tetramethylhexyl,1-cyclopentyl-2,2-dimethylpropyl, or 1-cyclohexyl-2,2-dimethylpropyl;

-   alkyl substituted by halogen such as chloromethyl, 1-chloroethyl,    2-chloroethyl, 2-bromoethyl, 2-iodoethyl, dichloromethyl,    fluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, pentafluoroethyl,    2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, 2,2,2-trichloroethyl,    1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl, nonafluorobutyl, or perfluorodecyl;-   alkyl substituted by hydroxyl such as hydroxymethyl, 2-hydroxyethyl,    3-hydroxypropyl, 4-hydroxybutyl, 2-hydroxy-3-methoxypropyl,    2-hydroxy-3-chloropropyl, 2-hydroxy-3-ethoxypropyl,    3-butyloxy-2-hydroxypropyl, 2-hydroxy-3-cyclohexyloxypropyl,    2-hydroxypropyl, 2-hydroxybutyl, or 4-hydroxydecalyl;-   alkyl substituted by hydroxyalkoxy such as hydroxymethoxymethyl,    hydroxyethoxyethyl, 2-(2′-hydroxy-1′-methylethoxy)-1-methylethyl,    2-(3′-fluoro-2′-hydroxypropyloxy)ethyl,    2-(3′-chloro-2′-hydroxypropyloxy)ethyl, or    hydroxybutyloxycyclohexyl;-   alkyl substituted by hydroxyalkoxyalkoxy such as    hydroxymethoxymethoxymethyl, hydroxyethoxyethoxyethyl,    [2′-(2′-hydroxy-1′-methylethoxy)-1′-methylethoxy]ethoxyethyl,    [2′-(2′-fluoro-1′-hydroxyethoxy)-1′-methylethoxy]ethoxyethyl,    [2′-(2′-chloro-1′-hydroxyethoxy)-1′-methylethoxy]ethoxyethyl;-   alkyl substituted by cyano such as cyanomethyl, 2-cyanoethyl,    3-cyanopropyl, 4-cyanobutyl, 2-cyano-3-methoxypropyl,    2-cyano-3-chloropropyl, 2-cyano-3-ethoxypropyl,    3-butyloxy-2-cyanopropyl, 2-cyano-3-cyclohexylpropyl, 2-cyanopropyl,    or 2-cyanobutyl;-   alkyl substituted by alkoxy such as methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl,    n-propyloxymethyl, n-butyloxymethyl, methoxyethyl, ethoxyethyl,    n-propyloxyethyl, n-butyloxyethyl, n-hexyloxyethyl,    (4-methylpentyloxy)ethyl, (1,3-dimethylbutyloxy)ethyl,    (2-ethylhexyloxy)ethyl, n-octyloxyethyl,    (3,5,5-trimethylhexyloxy)ethyl,    (2-methyl-1-isopropylpropyloxy)ethyl,    (3-methyl-1-isopropylbutyloxy)ethyl, 2-ethoxy-1-methylethyl,    3-methoxybutyl, (3,3,3-trifluoropropyloxy)ethyl, or    (3,3,3-trichloropropyloxy)ethyl;-   alkyl substituted by alkoxyalkoxy such as methoxymethoxymethyl,    methoxyethoxyethyl, ethoxyethoxyethyl, n-propyloxyethoxyethyl,    n-butyloxyethoxyethyl, cyclohexyloxyethoxyethyl,    decalyloxypropyloxyethoxy, (1,2-dimethylpropyloxy)ethoxyethyl,    (3-methyl-1-isobutylbutyloxy)ethoxyethyl,    (2-methoxy-1-methylethoxy)ethyl, (2-butyloxy-1-methylethoxy)ethyl,    2-(2′-ethoxy-1′-methylethoxy)-1-methylethyl,    (3,3,3-trifluoropropyloxy)ethoxyethyl, or    (3,3,3-trichloropropyloxy)ethoxyethyl;-   alkyl substituted by alkoxyalkoxyalkoxy such as    methoxymethoxymethoxymethyl, methoxyethoxyethoxyethyl,    ethoxyethoxyethoxyethyl, n-butyloxyethoxyethoxyethyl,    cyclohexyloxyethoxyethoxyethyl, n-propyloxypropyloxypropyloxyethyl,    (2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)ethoxyethoxyethyl, or    (2,2,2-trichloroethoxy)ethoxyethoxyethyl;-   alkyl substituted by acyl such as formylmethyl, 2-oxobutyl,    3-oxobutyl, 4-oxobutyl, 2,6-dioxocyclohexan-1-yl,    2-oxo-5-tert-butylcyclohexan-1-yl;-   alkyl substituted by acyloxy such as formyloxymethyl, acetoxyethyl,    n-propionyloxyethyl, n-butanoyloxyethyl, valeryloxyethyl,    (2-ethyl-hexanoyloxy)ethyl, (3,5,5-trimethylhexanoyloxy)ethyl,    (3,5,5-trimethylhexanoyloxy)hexyl, (3-fluorobutyryloxy)ethyl, or    (3-chlorobutyryloxy)ethyl;-   alkyl substituted by acyloxyalkoxy such as formyloxymethoxymethyl,    acetoxyethoxyethyl, n-propionyloxyethoxyethyl,    valeryloxyethoxyethyl, (2-ethylhexanoyloxy)ethoxyethyl,    (3,5,5-trimethylhexanoyl)oxybutyloxyethyl,    (3,5,5-trimethylhexanoyloxy)ethoxyethyl,    (2-fluoropropionyloxy)ethoxyethyl, or    (2-chloropropionyloxy)ethoxyethyl;-   alkyl substituted by acyloxyalkoxyalkoxy such as    acetoxymethoxymethoxymethyl, acetoxyethoxyethoxyethyl,    n-propionyloxyethoxyethoxyethyl, valeryloxyethoxyethoxyethyl,    (2-ethylhexanoyloxy)-ethoxyethoxyethyl,    (3,5,5-trimethylhexanoyloxy)ethoxyethoxyethyl,    (2-fluoropropionyloxy)ethoxyethoxyethyl, or    (2-chloropropionyloxy)-ethoxyethoxyethyl;-   alkyl substituted by alkoxycarbonyl such as methoxycarbonylmethyl,    ethoxycarbonylmethyl, n-butyloxycarbonylmethyl,    methoxycarbonylethyl, ethoxycarbonylethyl, n-butyloxycarbonylethyl,    (4-ethylcyclohexyloxy-carbonyl)cyclohexyl,    (2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyloxycarbonyl)methyl, or    (2,2,3,3-tetrachloropropyloxycarbonyl)methyl;-   alkyl substituted by aryloxycarbonyl such as    phenyloxycarbonylmethyl, (2-methylphenyloxycarbonyl)methyl,    (3-methylphenyloxycarbonyl)methyl,    (4-methylphenyloxycarbonyl)methyl,    (4-tert-butylphenyloxycarbonyl)methyl, phenyloxycarbonylethyl,    (4-tert-butylphenyloxycarbonyl)ethyl, (1-naphthyloxycarbonyl)methyl,    (2-naphthyloxycarbonyl)methyl, (2-phenylphenyloxycarbonyl)ethyl,    (3-phenylphenyloxycarbonyl)ethyl, or    (4-phenylphenyloxycarbonyl)ethyl;-   alkyl substituted by aralkyloxycarbonyl such as    benzyloxycarbonylmethyl, benzyloxycarbonylethyl,    phenethyloxycarbonylmethyl, or    (4-cyclohexyloxy-benzyloxycarbonyl)methyl;-   alkyl substituted by alkenyloxycarbonyl such as    vinyloxycarbonylmethyl, vinyloxycarbonylethyl,    allyloxycarbonylmethyl, cyclopentadienyloxycarbonylmethyl, or    octenoxycarbonylmethyl;-   alkyl substituted by alkoxycarbonyloxy such as    methoxycarbonyloxymethyl, methoxycarbonyloxyethyl,    ethoxycarbonyloxyethyl, butyloxycarbonyloxyethyl,    (2,2,2-trifluoroethoxycarbonyloxy)ethyl, or    (2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyloxy)ethyl;-   alkyl substituted by alkoxyalkoxycarbonyloxy such as    methoxymethoxycarbonyloxymethyl, methoxyethoxycarbonyloxyethyl,    ethoxyethoxycarbonyloxyethyl, n-butyloxyethoxycarbonyloxyethyl,    (2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)ethoxycarbonyloxyethyl, or    (2,2,2-trichloroethoxy)ethoxycarbonyloxyethyl;-   alkyl substituted by dialkylamino such as dimethylaminomethyl,    diethylaminomethyl, di-n-butylaminomethyl, di-n-hexylaminomethyl,    di-n-octylaminomethyl, di-n-decylaminomethyl,    N-isoamyl-N-methylaminomethyl, piperidinomethyl,    di(methoxymethyl)aminomethyl, di(methoxyethyl)aminomethyl,    di(ethoxymethyl)aminomethyl, di(ethoxyethyl)aminomethyl,    di(n-propyloxyethyl)aminomethyl, di(n-butyloxyethyl)aminomethyl,    bis(2-cyclohexyloxyethyl)aminomethyl, dimethylaminoethyl,    diethylaminoethyl, di-n-butylaminoethyl, di-n-hexylaminoethyl,    di-n-octylaminoethyl, di-n-decylaminoethyl,    N-isoamyl-N-methylaminoethyl, piperidinoethyl,    di(methoxymethyl)aminoethyl, di(methoxyethyl)aminoethyl,    di(ethoxymethyl)aminoethyl, di(ethoxyethyl)aminoethyl,    di(n-propyloxyethyl)aminoethyl, di(n-butyloxyethyl)aminoethyl,    bis(2-cyclohexyloxyethyl)aminoethyl, dimethylaminopropyl,    diethylaminopropyl, di-n-butylaminopropyl, di-n-hexylaminopropyl,    di-n-octylaminopropyl, di-n-decylaminopropyl,    N-isoamyl-N-methylaminopropyl, piperidinopropyl,    di(methoxymethyl)aminopropyl, di(methoxyethyl)aminopropyl,    di(ethoxymethyl)aminopropyl, di(ethoxyethyl)aminopropyl,    di(n-propyloxyethyl)aminopropyl, di(n-butyloxyethyl)aminopropyl,    bis(2-cyclohexyloxyethyl)aminopropyl, dimethylaminobutyl,    diethylaminobutyl, di-n-butylaminobutyl, di-n-hexylaminobutyl,    di-n-octylaminobutyl, di-n-decylaminobutyl,    N-isoamyl-N-methylaminobutyl, piperidinobutyl,    di(methoxymethyl)aminobutyl, di(methoxyethyl)aminobutyl,    di(ethoxymethyl)aminobutyl, di(ethoxyethyl)aminobutyl,    di(n-propyloxyethyl)aminobutyl, di(n-butyloxyethyl)aminobutyl, or    bis(2-cyclohexyloxyethyl)aminobutyl;-   alkyl substituted by acylamino such as acetylaminomethyl,    acetylaminoethyl, n-propionylaminoethyl, n-butanoylaminoethyl,    cyclohexylcarbonylaminoethyl, 4-methylcyclohexylcarbonylaminoethyl,    or succiniminoethyl;-   alkyl substituted by alkylsulfonamino such as    methylsulfonaminomethyl, methylsulfonaminoethyl,    ethylsulfonaminoethyl, n-propylsulfonaminoethyl, or    n-octylsulfonaminoethyl;-   alkyl substituted by alkylsulfonyl such as methylsulfonylmethyl,    ethylsulfonylmethyl, butylsulfonylmethyl, methylsulfonylethyl,    ethylsulfonylethyl, n-butylsulfonylethyl, 2-ethylhexylsulfonylethyl,    2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropylsulfonylmethyl, or    2,2,3,3-tetrachloropropylsulfonylmethyl;-   alkyl substituted by arylsulfonyl such as phenylsulfonylmethyl,    phenylsulfonylethyl, phenylsulfonylpropyl, phenylsulfonylbutyl,    2-methylphenylsulfonylmethyl, 3-methylphenylsulfonylmethyl,    4-methylphenylsulfonylmethyl, 4-methylphenylsulfonylethyl,    4-methylphenylsulfonylpropyl, 4-methylphenylsulfonylbutyl,    2,4-dimethylphenylsulfonylmethyl, 2,6-dimethylphenylsulfonylmethyl,    2,4-dimethylphenylsulfonylethyl, 2,4-dimethylphenylsulfonylpropyl,    or 2,4-dimethylphenylsulfonylbutyl; and-   alkyl substituted by heterocycle such as thiadiazolinomethyl,    pyrrolinomethyl, pyrrolidinomethyl, pyrazolidinomethyl,    imidazolidinomethyl, oxazolyl, triazolinomethyl, morpholinomethyl,    indolinomethyl, benzimidazolinomethyl, carbazolinomethyl.

The substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group to substitute a ring ARis an aralkyl group which may have an alkyl group as mentioned above asa substituent or may have the same substituent as the alkyl group asmentioned above may have. Specific examples include substituted orunsubstituted aralkyl groups such as benzyl, phenethyl, α-methylbenzyl,α,α-dimethylbenzyl, 1-naphthylmethyl, 2-naphthylmethyl, furfuryl,2-methylbenzyl, 3-methylbenzyl, 4-methylbenzyl, 4-ethylbenzyl,4-isopropylbenzyl, 4-tert-butylbenzyl, 4-n-hexylbenzyl, 4-n-nonylbenzyl,3,4-dimethylbenzyl, 3-methoxybenzyl, 4-methoxybenzyl, 4-ethoxybenzyl,4-n-butyloxybenzyl, 4-n-hexyloxybenzyl, 4-n-nonyloxybenzyl,3-fluorobenzyl, 4-fluorobenzyl, 2-chlorobenzyl, and 4-chlorobenzyl.

As examples of substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring group tosubstitute a ring AR, there are an unsubstituted carbocyclic aromaticring group and heterocyclic aromatic ring group, a carbocyclic aromaticring group or heterocyclic aromatic ring group having an alkyl group asmentioned above as a substituent, or carbocyclic aromatic ring group orheterocyclic aromatic ring group having the same substituent as thealkyl group as mentioned above may have. Specific examples includearomatic ring groups such as a substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclicaromatic group such as phenyl, 4-methylphenyl, 3-methylphenyl,2-methylphenyl, 4-ethylphenyl, 3-ethylphenyl, 2-ethylphenyl,4-n-propylphenyl, 4-isopropylphenyl, 2-isopropylphenyl, 4-n-butylphenyl,4-isobutylphenyl, 4-sec-butylphenyl, 2-sec-butylphenyl,4-tert-butylphenyl, 3-tert-butylphenyl, 2-tert-butylphenyl,4-n-pentylphenyl, 4-isopentylphenyl, 4-neopentylphenyl,4-tert-pentylphenyl, 4-n-hexylphenyl, 4-(2′-ethylbutyl)phenyl,4-n-heptylphenyl, 4-n-octylphenyl, 4-(2′-ethylhexyl)phenyl,4-n-nonylphenyl, 4-n-decylphenyl, 4-n-undecylphenyl, 4-n-dodecylphenyl,4-n-tetradecylphenyl, 4-cyclohexylphenyl, 4-(4′-methylcyclohexyl)phenyl,4-(4′-tert-butylcyclohexyl)phenyl, 3-cyclohexylphenyl,2-cyclohexylphenyl, 2,3-dimethylphenyl, 2,4-dimethylphenyl,2,5-dimethylphenyl, 2,6-dimethylphenyl, 3,4-dimethylphenyl,3,5-dimethylphenyl, 3,4,5-trimethylphenyl, 2,3,5,6-tetramethylphenyl,2,4-diethylphenyl, 2,6-diethylphenyl, 2,5-diisopropylphenyl,2,6-diisopropylphenyl, 2,6-diisobutylphenyl, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl,2,5-di-tert-butylphenyl, 4,6-di-tert-butyl-2-methylphenyl,5-tert-butyl-2-methylphenyl, 4-tert-butyl-2,6-dimethylphenyl,1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5-naphthyl,1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6-naphthyl, 4-ethyl-1-naphthyl, 6-n-butyl-2-naphthyl,5-indanyl, 4-methoxyphenyl, 3-methoxyphenyl, 2-methoxyphenyl,4-ethoxyphenyl, 3-ethoxyphenyl, 2-ethoxyphenyl, 4-n-propyloxyphenyl,3-n-propyloxyphenyl, 4-isopropyloxyphenyl, 2-isopropyloxyphenyl,4-n-butyloxyphenyl, 4-isobutyloxyphenyl, 2-sec-butyloxyphenyl,4-n-pentyloxyphenyl, 4-isopentyloxyphenyl, 2-isopentyloxyphenyl,4-neopentyloxyphenyl, 2-neopentyloxyphenyl, 4-n-hexyloxyphenyl,4-(2′-ethylbutyl)oxyphenyl, 4-n-heptyloxyphenyl, 4-n-octyloxyphenyl,4-n-nonyloxyphenyl, 4-n-decyloxyphenyl, 4-n-undecyloxyphenyl,4-n-dodecyloxyphenyl, 4-n-tetradecyloxyphenyl, 4-cyclohexyloxyphenyl,2-cyclohexyloxyphenyl, 2,3-dimethoxyphenyl, 2,4-dimethoxyphenyl,2,5-dimethoxyphenyl, 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl, 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl,3,5-diethoxyphenyl, 2-methoxy-4-methylphenyl, 2-methoxy-5-methylphenyl,2-methyl-4-methoxyphenyl, 3-methyl-4-methoxyphenyl,3-methyl-5-methoxyphenyl, 2-methoxy-1-naphthyl, 4-methoxy-1-naphthyl,4-n-butyloxy-1-naphthyl, 5-ethoxy-1-naphthyl, 6-methoxy-2-naphthyl,6-ethoxy-2-naphthyl, 6-n-butyloxy-2-naphthyl, 6-n-hexyloxy-2-naphthyl,7-methoxy-2-naphthyl, 7-n-butyloxy-2-naphthyl, 4-phenylphenyl,3-phenylphenyl, 2-phenylphenyl, 4-(4′-methylphenyl)phenyl,4-(3′-methylphenyl)phenyl, 4-(4′-ethylphenyl)phenyl,4-(4′-isopropylphenyl)phenyl, 4-(4′-tert-butylphenyl)phenyl,4-(4′-n-hexylphenyl)phenyl, 4-(4′-n-octylphenyl)phenyl,4-(4′-methoxyphenyl)phenyl, 4-(4′-n-butyloxyphenyl)phenyl,2-(2′-methoxyphenyl)phenyl, 4-(4′-chlorophenyl)phenyl,3-methyl-4-phenylphenyl, 3-methoxy-4-phenylphenyl, 9-phenyl-2-fluorenyl,9,9-diphenyl-2-fluorenyl, 9-methyl-9-phenyl-2-fluorenyl,9-ethyl-9-phenyl-2-fluorenyl, 4-fluorophenyl, 3-fluorophenyl,2-fluorophenyl, 4-chlorophenyl, 3-chlorophenyl, 2-chlorophenyl,4-bromophenyl, 2-bromophenyl, 4-trifluoromethylphenyl,2,3-difluorophenyl, 2,4-difluorophenyl, 2,5-difluorophenyl,2,6-difluorophenyl, 3,4-difluorophenyl, 3,5-difluorophenyl,2,3-dichlorophenyl, 2,4-dichlorophenyl, 2,5-dichlorophenyl,3,4-dichlorophenyl, 3,5-dichlorophenyl, 2,5-dibromophenyl,2,4,6-trichlorophenyl, 2-fluoro-4-methylphenyl, 2-fluoro-5-methylphenyl,3-fluoro-2-methylphenyl, 3-fluoro-4-methylphenyl,2-methyl-4-fluorophenyl, 2-methyl-5-fluorophenyl,3-methyl-4-fluorophenyl, 2-chloro-4-methylphenyl,2-chloro-5-methylphenyl, 2-chloro-6-methylphenyl,3-chloro-4-methylphenyl, 2-methyl-3-chlorophenyl,2-methyl-4-chlorophenyl, 3-methyl-4-chlorophenyl,2-chloro-4,6-dimethylphenyl, 2,4-dichloro-1-naphthyl,1,6-dichloro-2-naphthyl, 2-methoxy-4-fluorophenyl,3-methoxy-4-fluorophenyl, 2-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl,2-fluoro-4-ethoxyphenyl, 2-fluoro-6-methoxyphenyl,3-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl, 3-fluoro-4-ethoxyphenyl,2-chloro-4-methoxyphenyl, 3-chloro-4-methoxyphenyl,2-methoxy-5-chlorophenyl, 3-methoxy-4-chlorophenyl,3-methoxy-6-chlorophenyl, 5-chloro-2,4-dimethoxyphenyl, 2-hydroxyphenyl,3-hydroxyphenyl, 4-hydroxyphenyl, 2-nitrophenyl, 3-nitrophenyl,4-nitrophenyl, 2-cyanophenyl, 3-cyanophenyl, 4-cyanophenyl,2-methyl-5-nitrophenyl, 3,5-dinitrophenyl, or 2-hydroxy-4-nitrophenyl;and

-   a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic aromatic group such as    4-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, 2-pyridyl, 4-methyl-2-pyridyl,    5-methyl-2-pyridyl, 6-methyl-2-pyridyl, 4,6-dimethyl-2-pyridyl,    4-methyl-5-nitro-2-pyridyl, 3-hydroxy-2-pyridyl, 6-fluoro-3    -pyridyl, 6-methoxy-3-pyridyl, 6-methoxy-2-pyridyl, 2-pyrimidyl,    4-pyrimidyl, 5-pyrimidyl, 2,6-dimethyl-4-pyrimidyl, 4-quinolyl,    3-quinolyl, 4-methyl-2-quinolyl, 3-furyl, 2-furyl, 3-thienyl,    2-thienyl, 4-methyl-3-thienyl, 5-methyl-2-thienyl,    3-methyl-2-thienyl, 2-oxazolyl, 2-thiazolyl, 2-thiadiazolyl,    2-benzoxazolyl, 2-benzothiazolyl, or 2-benzoimidazolyl; and-   substituted or unsubstituted metallocenyl such as ferrocenyl,    cobaltocenyl, nickelocenyl, dichlorotitanocenyl,    trichlorotitaniumcyclopentadienyl,    bis(trifluoromethanesulfonato)titanocenyl, dichlorozirconocenyl,    dimethylzirconocenyl, diethoxyzirconocenyl,    bis(cyclopentadienyl)chromium,    bis(cyclopentadienyl)dichloromolybdenum,    bis(cyclopentadienyl)dichlorohafnium,    bis(cyclopentadienyl)dichloroniobium,    bis(cyclopentadienyl)ruthenium, bis(cyclopentadienyl)vanadium,    bis(cyclopentadienyl)dichlorovanadium, octamethylferrocenyl,    octamethylcobaltocenyl, or octamethylnickelocenyl.

The substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group to substitute a ring AR isan alkoxy group which may have an alkyl group as mentioned above as asubstituent or an alkoxy group which may have the same substituent asthe alkyl group as mentioned above may have. Specific examples includestraight, branched, or cyclic unsubstituted alkoxy such as methoxy,ethoxy, n-propyloxy, isopropyloxy, n-butyloxy, isobutyloxy,tert-butyloxy, sec-butyloxy, n-pentyloxy, isopentyloxy, tert-pentyloxy,sec-pentyloxy, cyclopentyloxy, n-hexyloxy, 1-methylpentyloxy,2-methylpentyloxy, 3-methylpentyloxy, 4-methylpentyloxy,1,1-dimethylbutyloxy, 1,2-dimethylbutyloxy, 1,3-dimethylbutyloxy,2,3-dimethylbutyloxy, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyloxy,1,2,2-trimethylpropyloxy, 1-ethylbutyloxy, 2-ethylbutyloxy,1-ethyl-2-methylpropyloxy, cyclohexyloxy, methylcyclopentyloxy,n-heptyloxy, 1-methylhexyloxy, 2-methylhexyloxy, 3-methylhexyloxy,4-methylhexyloxy, 5-methylhexyloxy, 1,1-dimethylpentyloxy,1,2-dimethylpentyloxy, 1,3-dimethylpentyloxy, 1,4-dimethylpentyloxy,2,2-dimethylpentyloxy, 2,3-dimethylpentyloxy, 2,4-dimethylpentyloxy,3,3-dimethylpentyloxy, 3,4-dimethylpentyloxy, 1-ethylpentyloxy,2-ethylpentyloxy, 3-ethylpentyloxy, 1,1,2-trimethylbutyloxy,1,1,3-trimethylbutyloxy, 1,2,3-trimethylbutyloxy,1,2,2-trimethylbutyloxy, 1,3,3-trimethylbutyloxy,2,3,3-trimethylbutyloxy, 1-ethyl-1-methylbutyloxy,1-ethyl-2-methylbutyloxy, 1-ethyl-3-methylbutyloxy,2-ethyl-1-methylbutyloxy, 2-ethyl-3-methylbutyloxy, 1-n-propylbutyloxy,1-isopropylbutyloxy, 1-isopropyl-2-methylpropyloxy, methylcyclohexyloxy,n-octyloxy, 1-methylheptyloxy, 2-methylheptyloxy, 3-methylheptyloxy,4-methylheptyloxy, 5-methylheptyloxy, 6-methylheptyloxy,1,1-dimethylhexyloxy, 1,2-dimethylhexyloxy, 1,3-dimethylhexyloxy,1,4-dimethylhexyloxy, 1,5-dimethylhexyloxy, 2,2-dimethylhexyloxy,2,3-dimethylhexyloxy, 2,4-dimethylhexyloxy, 2,5-dimethylhexyloxy,3,3-dimethylhexyloxy, 3,4-dimethylhexyloxy, 3,5-dimethylhexyloxy,4,4-dimethylhexyloxy, 4,5-dimethylhexyloxy, 1-ethylhexyloxy,2-ethylhexyloxy, 3-ethylhexyloxy, 4-ethylhexyloxy, 1-n-propylpentyloxy,2-n-propylpentyloxy, 1-isopropylpentyloxy, 2-isopropylpentyloxy,1-ethyl-1-methylpentyloxy, 1-ethyl-2-methylpentyloxy,1-ethyl-3-methylpentyloxy, 1-ethyl-4-methylpentyloxy,2-ethyl-1-methylpentyloxy, 2-ethyl-2-methylpentyloxy,2-ethyl-3-methylpentyloxy, 2-ethyl-4-methylpentyloxy,3-ethyl-1-methylpentyloxy, 3-ethyl-2-methylpentyloxy,3-ethyl-3-methylpentyloxy, 3-ethyl-4-methylpentyloxy,1,1,2-trimethylpentyloxy, 1,1,3-trimethylpentyloxy,1,1,4-trimethylpentyloxy, 1,2,2-trimethylpentyloxy,1,2,3-trimethylpentyloxy, 1,2,4-trimethylpentyloxy,1,3,4-trimethylpentyloxy, 2,2,3-trimethylpentyloxy,2,2,4-trimethylpentyloxy, 2,3,4-trimethylpentyloxy,1,3,3-trimethylpentyloxy, 2,3,3-trimethylpentyloxy,3,3,4-trimethylpentyloxy, 1,4,4-trimethylpentyloxy,2,4,4-trimethylpentyloxy, 3,4,4-trimethylpentyloxy, 1-n-butylbutyloxy,1-isobutylbutyloxy, 1-sec-butylbutyloxy, 1-tert-butylbutyloxy,2-tert-butylbutyloxy, 1-n-propyl-1-methylbutyloxy,1-n-propyl-2-methylbutyloxy, 1-n-propyl-3-methylbutyloxy,1-isopropyl-1-methylbutyloxy, 1-isopropyl-2-methylbutyloxy,1-isopropyl-3-methylbutyloxy, 1,1-diethylbutyloxy, 1,2-diethylbutyloxy,1-ethyl-1,2-dimethylbutyloxy, 1-ethyl-1,3-dimethylbutyloxy,1-ethyl-2,3-dimethylbutyloxy, 2-ethyl-1,1-dimethylbutyloxy,2-ethyl-1,2-dimethylbutyloxy, 2-ethyl-1,3-dimethylbutyloxy,2-ethyl-2,3-dimethylbutyloxy, 1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyloxy,1,2-dimethylcyclohexyloxy, 1,3-dimethylcyclohexyloxy,1,4-dimethylcyclohexyloxy, ethylcyclohexyloxy, n-nonyloxy,3,5,5-trimethylhexyloxy, n-decyloxy, n-undecyloxy, n-dodecyloxy,1-adamantyloxy, or n-pentadecyloxy;

-   alkoxy substituted by alkoxy such as methoxymethoxy, methoxyethoxy,    ethoxyethoxy, n-propyloxyethoxy, isopropyloxyethoxy,    n-butyloxyethoxy, isobutyloxyethoxy, tert-butyloxyethoxy,    sec-butyloxyethoxy, n-pentyloxyethoxy, isopentyloxyethoxy,    tert-pentyloxyethoxy, sec-pentyloxyethoxy, cyclopentyloxyethoxy,    n-hexyloxyethoxy, ethylcyclohexyloxyethoxy, n-nonyloxyethoxy,    (3,5,5-trimethylhexyloxy)ethoxy, (3,5,5-trimethylhexyloxy)butyloxy,    n-decyloxyethoxy, n-undecyloxyethoxy, n-dodecyloxyethoxy,    3-methoxypropyloxy, 3-ethoxypropyloxy, 3-(n-propyloxy)propyloxy,    2-isopropyloxypropyloxy, 2-methoxybutyloxy, 2-ethoxybutyloxy,    2-(n-propyloxy)butyloxy, 4-isopropyloxybutyloxy, decalyloxyethoxy,    or adamantyloxyethoxy;-   straight, branched, or cyclic alkoxy substituted by alkoxyalkoxy    such as methoxymethoxymethoxy, ethoxymethoxymethoxy,    propyloxymethoxymethoxy, butyloxymethoxymethoxy,    methoxyethoxymethoxy, ethoxyethoxymethoxy, propyloxyethoxymethoxy,    butyloxyethoxymethoxy, methoxypropyloxymethoxy,    ethoxypropyloxymethoxy, propyloxypropyloxymethoxy,    butyloxypropyloxymethoxy, methoxybutyloxymethoxy,    ethoxybutyloxymethoxy, propyloxybutyloxymethoxy,    butyloxybutyloxymethoxy, methoxymethoxyethoxy, ethoxymethoxyethoxy,    propyloxymethoxyethoxy, butyloxymethoxyethoxy, methoxyethoxyethoxy,    ethoxyethoxyethoxy, propyloxyethoxyethoxy, butyloxyethoxyethoxy,    methoxypropyloxyethoxy, ethoxypropyloxyethoxy,    propyloxypropyloxyethoxy, butyloxypropyloxyethoxy,    methoxybutyloxyethoxy, ethoxybutyloxyethoxy,    propyloxybutyloxyethoxy, butyloxybutyloxyethoxy,    methoxymethoxypropyloxy, ethoxymethoxypropyloxy,    propyloxymethoxypropyloxy, butyloxymethoxypropyloxy,    methoxyethoxypropyloxy, ethoxyethoxypropyloxy,    propyloxyethoxypropyloxy, butyloxyethoxypropyloxy,    methoxypropyloxypropyloxy, ethoxypropyloxypropyloxy,    propyloxypropyloxypropyloxy, butyloxypropyloxypropyloxy,    methoxybutyloxypropyloxy, ethoxybutyloxypropyloxy,    propyloxybutyloxypropyloxy, butyloxybutyloxypropyloxy,    methoxymethoxybutyloxy, ethoxymethoxybutyloxy,    propyloxymethoxybutyloxy, butyloxymethoxybutyloxy,    methoxyethoxybutyloxy, ethoxyethoxybutyloxy,    propyloxyethoxybutyloxy, butyloxyethoxybutyloxy,    methoxypropyloxybutyloxy, ethoxypropyloxybutyloxy,    propyloxypropyloxybutyloxy, butyloxypropyloxybutyloxy,    methoxybutyloxybutyloxy, ethoxybutyloxybutyloxy,    propyloxybutyloxybutyloxy, butyloxybutyloxybutyloxy,    (4-ethylcyclohexyloxy)ethoxyethoxy,    (2-ethyl-1-hexyloxy)ethoxypropyloxy, or    [4-(3,5,5-trimethylhexyloxy)butyloxy]ethoxy;-   alkoxy substituted by alkoxycarbonyl such as methoxycarbonylmethoxy,    ethoxycarbonylmethoxy, n-propyloxycarbonylmethoxy,    isopropyloxycarbonylmethoxy, or    (4′-ethylcyclohexyloxy)carbonylmethoxy;-   alkoxy substituted by acyl such as acetylmethoxy,    ethylcarbonylmethoxy, n-octylcarbonylmethoxy, or phenacyloxy; and-   alkoxy substituted by acyloxy such as acetyloxymethoxy,    acetyloxyethoxy, acetyloxyhexyloxy, or n-butanoyloxycyclohexyloxy;-   alkoxy substituted by alkylamino such as methylaminomethoxy,    2-methylaminoethoxy, 2-(2-methylaminoethoxy)ethoxy,    4-methylaminobutyloxy, 1-methylaminopropan-2-yloxy,    3-methylaminopropyloxy, 2-methylamino-2-methylpropyloxy,    2-ethylaminoethoxy, 2-(2-ethylaminoethoxy)ethoxy,    3-ethylaminopropyloxy, 1-ethylaminopropyloxy,    2-isopropylaminoethoxy, 2-(n-butylamino)ethoxy,    3-(n-hexylamino)propyloxy, or 4-(cyclohexylamino)butyloxy;-   alkoxy substituted by alkylaminoalkoxy such as    methylaminomethoxymethoxy, methylaminoethoxyethoxy,    methylaminoethoxypropyloxy, ethylaminoethoxypropyloxy, or    4-(2′-isobutylaminopropyloxy)butyloxy;-   alkoxy substituted by dialkylamino such as dimethylaminomethoxy,    2-dimethylaminoethoxy, 2-(2-dimethylaminoethoxy)ethoxy,    4-dimethylaminobutyloxy, 1-dimethylaminopropan-2-yloxy,    3-dimethylaminopropyloxy, 2-dimethylamino-2-methylpropyloxy,    2-diethylaminoethoxy, 2-(2-diethylaminoethoxy)ethoxy,    3-diethylaminopropyloxy, 1-diethylaminopropyloxy,    2-diisopropylaminoethoxy, 2-(di-n-butylamino)ethoxy,    2-piperidylethoxy, or 3-(di-n-hexylamino)propyloxy;-   alkoxy substituted by dialkylaminoalkoxy such as    dimethylaminomethoxymethoxy, dimethylaminoethoxyethoxy,    dimethylaminoethoxypropyloxy, diethylaminoethoxypropyloxy, or    4-(2′-diisobutylaminopropyloxy)butyloxy;-   alkoxy substituted by alkylthio such as methylthiomethoxy,    2-methylthioethoxy, 2-ethylthioethoxy, 2-n-propylthioethoxy,    2-isopropylthioethoxy, 2-n-butylthioethoxy, 2-isobutylthioethoxy, or    (3,5, 5-trimethylhexylthio)hexyloxy;-   alkoxy substituted by metallocenyl such as ferrocenylmethoxy,    ferrocenylethoxy, ferrocenylpropyloxy, ferrocenylbutyloxy,    ferrocenylpentyloxy, ferrocenylhexyloxy, ferrocenylheptyloxy,    ferrocenyloctyloxy, ferrocenylnonyloxy, ferrocenyldecyloxy,    cobaltocenylmethoxy, cobaltocenylethoxy, cobaltocenylpropyloxy,    cobaltocenylbutyloxy, cobaltocenylpentyloxy, cobaltocenylhexyloxy,    cobaltocenylheptyloxy, cobaltocenyloctyloxy, cobaltocenylnonyloxy,    cobaltocenyldecyloxy, nickelocenylmethoxy, nickelocenylethoxy,    nickelocenylpropyloxy, nickelocenylbutyloxy, nickelocenylpentyloxy,    nickelocenylhexyloxy, nickelocenylheptyloxy, nickelocenyloctyloxy,    nickelocenylnonyloxy, nickelocenyldecyloxy,    dichlorotitanocenylmethoxy,    trichlorotitaniumcyclopentadienylmethoxy,    bis(trifluoromethanesulfonato)titanocenylmethoxy,    dichlorozirconocenylmethoxy, bis(cyclopentadienyl)chromiummethoxy,    bis(cyclopentadienyl)dichlorohafniummethoxy,    bis(cyclopentadienyl)dichloroniobiummethoxy,    bis(cyclopentadienyl)rutheniummethoxy,    bis(cyclopentadienyl)vanadiummethoxy,    bis(cyclopentadienyl)dichlorovanadiummethoxy, or    bis(cyclopentadienyl)osmiummethoxy. Preferable examples include    alkoxy groups of 1 to 12 carbon atoms such as methoxy, ethoxy,    n-propyloxy, isopropyloxy, n-butyloxy, isobutyloxy, sec-butyloxy,    tert-butyloxy, n-pentyloxy, isopentyloxy, neopentyloxy,    2-methylbutyloxy, 2-ethylhexyloxy, 3,5,5-trimethylhexyloxy,    decalyloxy, methoxyethoxy, ethoxyethoxy, methoxyethoxyethoxy,    ethoxyethoxyethoxy, and ferrocenylmethoxy.

The substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxy group to substitute a ringAR is an aralkyloxy group which may have an alkyl group as mentionedabove as a substituent or an aralkyloxy group which may have the samesubstituent as the alkyl group as mentioned above may have. Specificexamples include aralkyloxy groups such as benzyloxy, 4-nitrobenzyloxy,4-cyanobenzyloxy, 4-hydroxybenzyloxy, 2-methylbenzyloxy,3-methylbenzyloxy, 4-methylbenzyloxy, 4-trifluoromethylbenzyloxy,1-naphtylmethoxy, 2-naphtylmethoxy, 4-cyano-1-naphtylmethoxy,4-hydroxy-1-naphtylmethoxy, 6-hydroxy-2-naphthylmethoxy,4-methyl-1-naphthylmethoxy, 6-methyl-2-naphthylmethoxygroup,4-trifluoromethyl-1-naphthylmethoxy, and fluorene-9-yl ethoxy.

The substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy group to substitute a ring ARis an aryloxy group which may have an alkyl group as mentioned above asa substituent or an aryloxy group which may have the same substituent asthe alkyl group as mentioned above may have. Specific examples includearyloxy groups such as phenoxy, 2-methylphenoxy, 4-methylphenoxy,4-tert-butylphenoxy, 2-methoxyphenoxy, 4-isopropylphenoxy, naphthyloxy,ferrocenyloxy, cobaltocenyloxy, nickelocenyloxy,octamethylferrocenyloxy, octamethylcobaltocenyloxy, andoctamethylnickelocenyloxy.

As examples of the substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio group tosubstitute a ring AR, an alkylthio group which may have an alkyl groupas mentioned above as a substituent or an alkylthio group which may havethe same substituent as the alkyl group as mentioned above may have.Specific examples include alkylthio groups such as methylthio,ethylthio, n-propylthio, isopropylthio, n-butylthio, isobutylthio,sec-butylthio, tert-butylthio, n-pentylthio, isopentylthio,neopentylthio, 2-methylbutylthio, methylcarboxylethylthio,2-ethylhexylthio, 3,5,5-trimethylhexylthio, and decalylthio.

As examples of the substituted or unsubstituted aralkylthio group tosubstitute a ring AR, an aralkylthio group which may have an alkyl groupas mentioned above as a substituent or an aralkylthio group which mayhave the same substituent as the alkyl group as mentioned above mayhave. Specific examples include aralkylthio groups such as benzylthio,4-cyanobenzylthio, 4-hydroxybenzylthio, 2-methylbenzylthio,3-methylbenzylthio, 4-methylbenzylthio, 4-trifluoromethylbenzylthio,1-naphthylmethylthio, 4-nitro-1-naphthylmethylthio,4-cyano-1-naphthylmethylthio, 4-hydroxy-1-naphthylmethylthio,4-methyl-1-naphthylmethylthiogroup,4-trifluoromethyl-1-naphthylmethylthio, and fluorene-9-yl ethylthio.

As examples of the substituted or unsubstituted arylthio group tosubstitute a ring AR, an arylthio group which may have an alkyl group asmentioned above as a substituent or an arylthio group which may have thesame substituent as the alkyl group as mentioned above may have.Specific examples include arylthio groups such as phenylthio,4-methylphenylthio, 2-methoxyphenylthio, 4-tert-butylphenylthio,naphthylthio, ferrocenylthio, cobaltocenylthio, nickelocenylthio,octamethylferrocenylthio, octamethylcobaltocenylthio, andoctamethylnickelocenylthio.

As examples of the substituted or unsubstituted amino group tosubstitute a ring AR, an amino group which may have an alkyl group asmentioned above as a substituent or an alkylamino group which may havethe same substituent as the alkyl group as mentioned above may have.Specific examples include monoalkylamino groups such as amino,methylamino, ethylamino, propylamino, butylamino, pentylamino,hexylamino, heptylamino, octylamino, 2-ethylhexylamino, cyclohexylamino,3,5,5-trimethylhexylamino, nonylamino, and decylamino; dialkylaminogroups such as dimethylamino, diethylamino, methylethylamino,dibutylamino, piperidino, morpholino, di(acetyloxyethyl)amino, anddi(propionyloxyethyl)amino;

aralkylamino groups which may have an alkyl group as mentioned above asa substituent or an aralkylamino group which may have the samesubstituent as the alkyl group as mentioned above may have, specificexamples including monoaralkyl amino groups such as benzylamino,phenetylamino, 3-phenylpropylamino, 4-ethybenzylamino,4-isopropylbenzylamino; and diaralkyl amino groups such asdibenzylamino, diphenetylamino, bis(4-ethylbenzyl)amino, andbis(4-isopropylbenzyl)amino;

arylamino groups which may have an alkyl group as mentioned above as asubstituent or an arylamino group which may have the same substituent asthe arylamino group as mentioned above may have, specific examplesincluding monoarylamino such as phenylamino, 1-naphthylamino,2-naphthylamino, 2-methylphenylamino, 3-methylphenylamino,4-methylphenylamino, 2,4-dimethylphenylamino, 2,6-dimethylphenylamino,4-ethylphenylamino, 4-isopropylphenylamino, 4-methoxyphenylamino,4-chlorophenylamino, 4-acetylphenylamino, 4-methoxycarbonylphenylamino,4-ethoxycarbonylphenylamino, or 4-propyloxycarbonylphenylamino;diarylamino such as N,N-diphenylamino, N,N-di(3-methylphenyl)amino,N,N-di(4-methylphenyl)amino, N,N-di(4-ethylphenyl)amino,N,N-di(4-tert-butylphenyl)amino, N,N-di(4-n-hexylphenyl)amino,N,N-di(4-methoxyphenyl)amino, N,N-di(4-ethoxyphenyl)amino,N,N-di(4-n-butyloxyphenyl)amino, N,N-di(4-n-hexyloxyphenyl)amino,N,N-di(1-naphthyl)amino, N,N-di(2-naphthyl)amino,N-phenyl-N-(3-methylphenyl)amino, N-phenyl-N-(4-methylphenyl)amino,N-phenyl-N-(4-n-octylphenyl)amino, N-phenyl-N-(4-methoxyphenyl)amino,N-phenyl-N-(4-ethoxyphenyl)amino, N-phenyl-N-(4-n-hexyloxyphenyl)amino,N-phenyl-N-(4-fluorophenyl)amino, N-phenyl-N-(1-naphthyl)amino,N-phenyl-N-(2-naphthyl)amino, or N-phenyl-N-(4-phenylphenyl)amino;

acylamino groups which may have an alkyl group as mentioned above as asubstituent or an acylamino group which may have the same substituent asthat the alkyl group as mentioned above may have, specific examplesincluding acylamino groups such as formylamino, acetylamino,propionylamino, benzoylamino, phenylacetylamino, and toluoylamino;

alkoxycarbonylamino groups which may have an alkyl group as mentionedabove as a substituent or an alkoxycarbonylamino group which may havethe same substituent as the alkyl group as mentioned above may have,specific examples including alkoxycarbonyl groups such asmethoxycarbonylamino, ethoxycarbonylamino, propoxycarbonylamino, andbutoxycarbonylamino;

aralkyloxycarbonylamino groups which may have an alkyl group asmentioned above as a substituent or an aralkyloxycarbonylamino groupwhich may have the same substituent as the alkyl group as mentionedabove may have, specific examples including aralkyloxycarbonylaminogroups such as benzyloxycarbonylamino, and phenetyloxycarbonylamino;

aromatic ring oxycarbonylamino groups which may have an alkyl group asmentioned above as a substituent or an aromatic ring oxycarbonylaminogroup which may have the same substituent as the alkyl group asmentioned above may have, specific examples including aromatic ringoxycarbonylamino groups such as phenoxycarbonylamino,tolyloxycarbonylamino, and pyridyloxycarbonylamino; and

alkenyloxycarbonylamino groups which may have an alkyl group asmentioned above as a substituent and an alkenyloxycarbonylamino groupwhich may have the same substituent as the alkyl group as mentionedabove may have, specific examples including alkenyloxycarbonylaminogroups such as a vinyloxycarbonylamino, aryloxycarbonylamino, andbutenoxycarbonylamino.

As examples of the substituted or unsubstituted acyl group to substitutea ring AR, an acyl group which may have an alkyl group as mentionedabove as a substituent or an acyl group which may have the samesubstituent as the alkyl group as mentioned above may have, may bementioned. Specific examples include acyl groups such as formyl,methylcarbonyl, ethylcarbonyl, n-propylcarbonyl, isopropylcarbonyl,n-butylcarbonyl, isobutylcarbonyl, sec-butylcarbonyl,tert-butylcarbonyl, n-pentylcarbonyl, isopentylcarbonyl,neopentylcarbonyl, 2-methylbutylcarbonyl, benzoyl, 2-methylbenzoyl,3-methylbenzoyl, 4-methylbenzoyl, 4-ethylbenzoyl, 4-n-propylbenzoyl,4-tert-butylbenzoyl, 4-nitrobenzylcarbonyl, 3-n-butoxy-2-naphthoyl,cinnamoyl, ferrocenecarbonyl, and 1-methylferrocene-1′-carbonyl.

As examples of the substituted or unsubstituted acyloxy group tosubstitute a ring AR, an acyloxy group which may have an alkyl group asmentioned above as a substituent or an acyloxy group which may have thesame substituent as the alkyl group as mentioned above may have, may bementioned. Specific examples include acyloxy groups such as formyloxy,methylcarbonyloxy, ethylcarbonyloxy, n-propylcarbonyloxy,iosopropylcarbonyloxy, n-butylcarbonyloxy, isobutylcarbonyloxy,sec-butylcarbonyloxy, tert-butylcarbonyloxy, n-pentylcarbonyloxy,isopentylcarbonyloxy, neopentylcarbonyloxy, 2-methylbutylcarbonyloxy,benzoyloxy, 2-methylbenzoyloxy, 3-methylbenzoyloxy, 4-methylbenzoyloxy,4-ethylbenzoyloxy, 4-n-propylbenzoyloxy, 4-tert-butylbenzoyloxy,4-nitrobenzylcarbonyloxy, 3-n-butoxy-2-naphtoyloxy, cinnamoyloxy,ferrocenecarbonyloxy, 1-methylferrocene-1′-carbonyloxy,cobaltcenecarobonyloxy, and nickelocenecarbonyloxy.

As examples of the substituted or unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl group tosubstitute a ring AR, an alkoxycarbonyl group which may have an alkylgroup as mentioned above as a substituent and an alkoxycarbonyl groupwhich may have the same substituent as the alkyl group as mentionedabove may have, may be mentioned. Specific examples includealkoxycarbonyl such as methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl,n-propyloxycarbonyl, isopropyloxycarbonyl, n-butyloxycarbonyl,isobutyloxycarbonyl, sec-butyloxycarbonyl, tert-butyloxycarbonyl,n-pentyloxycarbonyl, isopentyloxycarbonyl, neopentyloxycarbonyl,2-ethylhexyloxycarbonyl, 3,5,5-trimethylhexyloxycarbonyl,decalyloxycarbonyl, cyclohexyloxycarbonyl, 2-chloroethoxycarbonyl,hydroxymethoxycarbonyl, or 2-hydroxyethoxycarbonyl; alkoxycarbonylsubstituted by alkoxy groups such as methoxymethoxycarbonyl,methoxyethoxycarbonyl, ethoxyethoxycarbonyl, n-propyloxyethoxycarbonyl,n-butyloxyethoxycarbonyl, n-pentyloxyethoxycarbonyl,n-hexyloxyethoxyethyl, n-butyloxybutyloxycarbonyl,n-hexyloxybutyloxycarbonyl, hydroxymethoxymethoxycarbonyl, orhydroxyethoxyethoxycarbonyl; alkoxycarbonyl substituted by alkoxyalkoxygroups such as methoxymethoxymethoxycarbonyl,methoxyethoxyethoxycarbonyl, ethoxyethoxyethoxycarbonyl,n-propyloxyethoxyethoxycarbonyl, n-butyloxyethoxyethoxycarbonyl,n-pentyloxyethoxyethoxycarbonyl, or n-hexyloxyethoxyethoxycarbonyl; and

-   alkoxycarbonyl substituted by metallocenyl such as    ferrocenylmethoxycarbonyl, ferrocenylethoxycarbonyl,    ferrocenylpropyloxycarbonyl, ferrocenylbutyloxycarbonyl,    ferrocenylpentyloxycarbonyl, ferrocenylhexyloxycarbonyl,    ferrocenylheptyloxycarbonyl, ferrocenyloctyloxycarbonyl,    ferrocenylnonyloxycarbonyl, ferrocenylbutyldecylcarbonyl,    cobaltocenylmethoxycarbonyl, cobaltocenylethoxycarbonyl,    cobaltocenylpropyloxycarbonyl, cobaltocenylbutyloxycarbonyl,    cobaltocenylpentyloxycarbonyl, cobaltocenylhexyloxycarbonyl,    cobaltocenylheptyloxycarbonyl, cobaltocenyloctyloxycarbonyl,    cobaltocenylnonyloxycarbonyl, cobaltocenylbutyldecylcarbonyl,    nickelocenylmethoxycarbonyl, nickelocenylethoxycarbonyl,    nickelocenylpropyloxycarbonyl, nickelocenylbutyloxycarbonyl,    nickelocenylpentyloxycarbonyl, nickelocenylhexyloxycarbonyl,    nickelocenylheptyloxycarbonyl, nickelocenyloctyloxycarbonyl,    nickelocenyinonyloxycarbonyl, nickelocenylbutyldecylcarbonyl,    dichlorotitanocenylmethoxycarbonyl,    trichlorotitaniumcyclopentadienylmethoxycarbonyl,    bis(trifluoromethanesulfonato)titanocenylmethoxycarbonyl,    dichlorozirconocenylmethoxycarbonyl,    dimethylzirconocenylmethoxycarbonyl,    diethoxyzirconocenylmethoxycarbonyl,    bis(cyclopentadienyl)chromiummethoxycarbonyl,    bis(cyclopentadienyl)dichlorohafniummethoxycarbonyl,    bis(cyclopentadienyl)dichloroniobiummethoxycarbonyl,    bis(cyclopentadienyl)rutheniummethoxycarbonyl,    bis(cyclopentadienyl)vanadiummethoxycarbonyl,    bis(cyclopentadienyl)dichlorovanadiummethoxycarbonyl, or    bis(cyclopentadienyl)osmiummethoxycarbonyl.

As examples of the substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl groupto substitute a ring AR, an aralkyloxycarbonyl group which may have analkyl group as mentioned above as a substituent and anaralkyloxycarbonyl group which may have the same substituent as thealkyl group as mentioned above may have, may be mentioned. Specificexamples include aralkyloxycarbonyl groups such as benzyloxycarbonyl,4-nitrobenzyloxycarbonyl, 4-cyanobenzyloxycarbonyl,4-hydroxybenzyloxycarbonyl, 2-methylbenzyloxycarbonyl,3-methylbenzyloxycarbonyl, 4-methylbenzyloxycarbonyl,4-trifluoromethylbenzyloxycarbonyl, 1-naphthylmethoxycarbonyl,2-naphthylmethoxycarbonyl, 4-cyano-1-naphthylmethoxycarbonyl,4-hydroxy-1-naphthylmethoxycarbonyl,6-hydroxy-2-naphthylmethoxycarbonyl, 4-methyl-1-naphthylmethoxycarbonyl,6-methyl-2-naphthylmethoxycarbonyl,4-trifluoromethyl-1-naphthylmethoxycarbonyl, andfluorene-9-yl-ethoxycarbonyl.

The substituted or unsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl group to substitute aring AR is an aryloxycarbonyl group which may have an alkyl group asmentioned above as a substituent or an aryloxycarbonyl group which mayhave the same substituent as the alkyl group as mentioned above mayhave. Specific examples include aryloxycarbonyl groups such asphenyloxycarbonyl, 2-methylphenyloxycarbonyl, 4-methylphenyloxycarbonyl,4-tert-butylphenyloxycarbonyl, 2-methoxyphenyloxycarbonyl,4-isopropylphenyloxycarbonyl, naphthyloxycarbonyl,ferrocenyloxycarbonyl, cobaltocenyloxycarbonyl, nickelocenyloxycarbonyl,octamethylferrocenyloxycarbonyl, octamethylcobaltocenyloxycarbonyl, andoctamethylnickelocenyloxycarbonyl.

As examples of the substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxycarbonyl groupto substitute a ring AR, an alkenyloxycarbonyl group which may have analkyl group as mentioned above as a substituent or an alkenyloxycarbonylgroup which may have the same substituent as the alkyl group asmentioned above may have, may be mentioned. Preferable examples includealkenyloxycarbonyl groups having from 3 to 11 carbon atoms such asvinyloxycarbonyl, propenyloxycarbonyl, 1-butenyloxycarbonyl,iso-butenyloxycarbonyl, 1-pentenyloxycarbonyl, 2-pentenyloxycarbonyl,cyclopentadienyloxycarbonyl, 2-methyl-1-butenyloxycarbonyl,3-methyl-1-butenyloxycarbonyl, 2-methyl-2-butenyloxycarbonyl,2,2-dicyanovinyloxycarbonyl, 2-cyano-2-methylcarboxyvinyloxycarbonyl,2-cyano-2-methylsulfonevinyloxycarbonyl, styryloxycarbonyl, and4-phenyl-2-butenyloxycarbonyl.

As examples of the substituted aminocarbonyl group to substitute a ringAR, a substituted aminocarbonyl group which may have an alkyl group asmentioned above as a substituent or a substituted aminocarbonyl groupwhich may have the same substituent as the alkyl group as mentionedabove may have, may be mentioned. Preferable examples includesubstituted aminocarbonyl groups such as monosubstituted aminocarbonylsuch as monoalkylaminocarbonyl having 2 to 11 carbon atoms such asmethylaminocarbonyl, ethylaminocarbonyl, propylaminocarbonyl,butylaminocarbonyl, pentylaminocarbonyl, hexylaminocarbonyl,heptylaminocarbonyl, octylaminocarbonyl, (2-ethylhexyl)aminocarbonyl,cyclohexylaminocarbonyl, (3,5,5-trimethylhexyl)aminocarbonyl,nonylaminocarbonyl, or decylaminocarbonyl;

-   monoaralkylaminocarbonyl having 8 to 11 carbon atoms such as    benzylaminocarbonyl, phenethylaminocarbonyl,    (3-phenylpropylaminocarbonyl, (4-ethylbenzyl)aminocarbonyl,    (4-isopropylbenzyl)aminocarbonyl, (4-methylbenzyl)aminocarbonyl,    (4-ethylbenzyl)aminocarbonyl, (4-allylbenzyl)aminocarbonyl,    [4-(2-cyanoethyl)benzyl]aminocarbonyl, or    [4-(2-acetoxyethyl)benzyl]aminocarbonyl;-   monoarylaminocarbonyl having 7 to 11 carbon atoms such as    anilinocarbonyl, naphthylaminocarbonyl, toluidinocarbonyl,    xylidinocarbonyl, ethylanilinocarbonyl, isopropylanilinocarbonyl,    methoxyanilinocarbonyl, ethoxyanilinocarbonyl,    chloroanilinocarbonyl, acetylanilinocarbonyl,    methoxycarbonylanilinocarbonyl, ethoxycarbonylanilinocarbonyl,    propoxycarbonylanilinocarbonyl, 4-methylanilinocarbonyl, or    4-ethylanilinocarbonyl;-   monoalkenylaminocarbonyl having 3 to 11 carbon atoms such as    vinylaminocarbonyl, allylaminocarbonyl, butenylaminocarbonyl,    pentenylaminocarbonyl, hexenylaminocarbonyl,    cyclohexenylaminocarbonyl, octadienylaminocarbonyl, or    adamantenylaminocarbonyl;-   dialkylaminocarbonyl having 3 to 17 carbon atoms such as    dimethylaminocarbonyl, diethylaminocarbonyl,    methylethylaminocarbonyl, dipropylaminocarbonyl,    dibutylaminocarbonyl, di-n-hexylaminocarbonyl,    dicyclohexylaminocarbonyl, dioctylaminocarbonyl,    pyrrolidinocarbonyl, piperidinocarbonyl, morpholinocarbonyl,    bis(methoxyethyl)aminocarbonyl, bis(ethoxyethyl)aminocarbonyl,    bis(propoxyethyl)aminocarbonyl, bis(butoxyethyl)aminocarbonyl,    di(acetyloxyethyl)aminocarbonyl, di(hydroxyethyl)aminocarbonyl,    N-ethyl-N-(2-cyanoethyl)aminocarbonyl, or    di(propionyloxyethyl)aminocarbonyl;-   diaralkylaminocarbonyl having 15 to 21 carbon atoms such as    dibenzylaminocarbonyl, diphenethylaminocarbonyl,    bis(4-ethylbenzyl)aminocarbonyl, or    bis(4-isopropylbenzyl)aminocarbonyl;-   diarylaminocarbonyl having 13 to 15 carbon atoms such as    diphenylaminocarbonyl, ditolylaminocarbonyl, or    N-phenyl-N-tolylaminocarbonyl; and-   dialkenylaminocarbonyl having 5 to 13 carbon atoms such as    divinylaminocarbonyl, diallylaminocarbonyl, dibutenylaminocarbonyl,    dipentenylaminocarbonyl, dihexenylaminocarbonyl, or    N-vinyl-N-allylaminocarbonyl;-   disubstituted aminocarbonyl having 4 to 11 carbon atoms and having a    substituent selected from substituted or unsubstituted alkyl,    aralkyl, aryl, and alkenyl such as N-phenyl-N-allylaminocarbonyl,    N-(2-acetyloxyethyl)-N-ethylaminocarbonyl,    N-tolyl-N-methylaminocarbonyl, N-vinyl-N-methylaminocarbonyl, or    N-benzyl-N-allylaminocarbonyl.

As examples of the substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl group tosubstitute a ring AR, an alkenyl group which may have an alkyl group asmentioned above as a substituent or an alkenyl group which may have thesame substituent as the alkyl group as mentioned above may have, may bementioned. Preferable examples include alkenyl groups having from 2 to10 carbon atoms such as vinyl, propenyl, 1-butenyl, iso-butenyl,1-pentenyl, 2-pentenyl, 2-methyl-1-butenyl, 3-methyl-1-butenyl,2-methyl-2-butenyl, 2,2-dicyanovinyl, 2-cyano-2-methylcarboxylvinyl,2-cyano-2-methylsulfonevinyl, styryl, and 4-phenyl-2-butenyl.

As examples of the substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxy group tosubstitute a ring AR, an alkenyloxy group which may have an alkyl groupas mentioned above as a substituent or an alkenyloxy group which mayhave the same substituent as the alkyl group as mentioned above mayhave, may be mentioned. Preferable examples include alkenyloxy groupshaving from 2 to 10 carbon atoms such as vinyloxy, propenyloxy,1-butenyloxy, iso-butenyloxy, 1-pentenyloxy, 2-pentenyloxy,2-methyl-1-butenyloxy, 3-methyl-1-butenyloxy, 2-methyl-2-butenyloxy,cyclopentadienyloxy, 2,2-dicyanovinyloxy,2-cyano-2-methylcarboxylvinyloxy, 2-cyano-2-methylsulfonevinyloxy,styryloxy, 4-phenyl-2-butenyloxy, and cinnamylalkoxy.

As examples of the substituted or unsubstituted alkenylthio group tosubstitute a ring AR, an alkenylthio group which may have an alkyl groupas mentioned above as a substituent or an alkenylthio group which mayhave the same substituent as the alkyl group as mentioned above mayhave, may be mentioned. Preferable examples include alkenylthio groupshaving from 2 to 10 carbon atoms such as vinylthio, allylthio,butenylthio, hexanedienylthio, cyclopentadienylthio, styrylthio,cyclohexenylthio, and decenylthio.

As examples of the substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl group tosubstitute a ring AR, a heteroaryl group which may have an alkyl groupas mentioned above as a substituent or a heteroaryl group which may havethe same substituent as the alkyl group as mentioned above may have, maybe mentioned. Preferable examples include unsubstituted heteroaryl suchas furanyl, pyrrolyl, 3-pyrrolino, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl,thiazolyl, 1,2,3-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,3-triazolyl, 1,2,4-triazolyl,1,3,4-thiadiazolyl, pyridinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl,piperazinyl, triazinyl, benzofuranyl, indolyl, thionaphthenyl,benzimidazolyl, benzothiazolyl, benzotriazol-2-yl, benzotriazol-1-yl,purinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, coumarinyl, cinnolinyl,quinoxalinyl, dibenzofuranyl, carbazolyl, phenanthrolinyl,phenothiazinyl, flavonyl, phthalimidyl, or naphthylimidyl;

-   or heteroaryl substituted by following substituents:-   halogen such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodide;-   cyano;-   alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl,    octyl, decyl, methoxymethyl, ethoxyethyl, ethoxyethyl, or    trifluoromethyl;-   aralkyl such as benzyl or phenethyl;-   aryl such as phenyl, tolyl, naphthyl, xylyl, mesyl, chlorophenyl, or    methoxyphenyl;-   alkoxy such as methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, pentoxy, hexyloxy,    heptyloxy, octyloxy, nonyloxy, decyloxy, 2-ethylhexyloxy,    3,5,5-trimethylhexyloxy, ferrocenemethoxy, cobaltocenemethoxy, or    nickelocenemethoxy;-   aralkyloxy such as benzyloxy or phenethyloxy;-   aryloxy such as phenoxy, tolyloxy, naphthoxy, xylyloxy, mesityloxy,    chlorophenoxy, or methoxyphenoxy;-   alkenyl such as vinyl, allyl, butenyl, butadienyl, pentenyl,    cyclopentadienyl, or octenyl;-   alkenyloxy such as vinyloxy, allyloxy, butenyloxy, butadienyloxy,    pentenyloxy, cyclopentadienyloxy, or octenyloxy;-   alkylthio such as methylthio, ethylthio, propylthio, butylthio,    pentylthio, hexylthio, heptylthio, octylthio, decylthio,    methoxymethylthio, ethoxyethylthio, ethoxyethylthio, or    trifluoromethylthio;-   aralkylthio such as benzylthio or phenethylthio;-   arylthio such as phenylthio, tolylthio, naphthylthio, xylylthio,    mesylthio, chlorophenylthio, or methoxyphenylthio;-   dialkylamino such as dimethylamino, diethylamino, dipropylamino, or    dibutylamino;-   acyl such as acetyl, propionyl, butanoyl, ferrocenecarbonyl,    cobaltocenecarbonyl, or nickelocenecarbonyl;-   alkoxycarbonyl such as methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl,    ferrocenemethoxycarbonyl, 1-methylferrocen-1′-ylmethoxycarbonyl,    cobaltocenylmethoxycarbonyl, or nickelocenylmethoxycarbonyl;-   aralkyloxycarbonyl such as benzyloxycarbonyl or    phenethyloxycarbonyl;-   aryloxycarbonyl such as phenoxycarbonyl, tolyloxycarbonyl,    naphthoxycarbonyl, xylyloxycarbonyl, mesyloxycarbonyl,    chlorophenoxycarbonyl, or methoxyphenoxycarbonyl;-   alkenyloxycarbonyl such as vinyloxycarbonyl, allyloxycarbonyl,    butenyloxycarbonyl, butadienyloxycarbonyl, cyclopentadienyloxy,    pentenyloxycarbonyl, or octenyloxycarbonyl;-   alkylaminocarbonyl such as monoalkylaminocarbonyl having 2 to 10    carbon atoms such as methylaminocarbonyl, ethylaminocarbonyl,    propylaminocarbonyl, butylaminocarbonyl, pentylaminocarbonyl,    hexylaminocarbonyl, heptylaminocarbonyl, octylaminocarbonyl,    nonylaminocarbonyl, 3,5,5-trimethylhexylaminocarbonyl, or    2-ethylhexylaminocarbonyl, and dialkylaminocarbonyl having 3 to 20    carbon atoms such as dimethylaminocarbonyl, diethylaminocarbonyl,    dipropylaminocarbonyl, dibutylaminocarbonyl, dipentylaminocarbonyl,    dihexylaminocarbonyl, diheptylaminocarbonyl, dioctylaminocarbonyl,    piperidinocarbonyl, morpholinocarbonyl, 4-methylpiperazinocarbonyl,    or 4-ethylpiperazinocarbonyl;-   heterocycle such as furanyl, pyrrolyl, 3-pyrrolino, pyrrolidino,    1,3-oxolanyl, pyrazolyl, 2-pyrazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl, imidazolyl,    oxazolyl, thiazolyl, 1,2,3-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,3-triazolyl,    1,2,4-triazolyl, 1,3,4-thiadiazolyl, 4H-pyranyl, pyridinyl,    piperidinyl, dioxanyl, morpholinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl,    pyrazinyl, piperazinyl, triazinyl, benzofuranyl, indolyl,    thionaphthenyl, benzimidazolyl, benzothiazolyl, purinyl, quinolinyl,    isoquinolinyl, coumarinyl, cinnolinyl, quinoxalinyl, dibenzofuranyl,    carbazolyl, phenanthrolinyl, phenothiazinyl, or flavonyl; and-   metallocenyl such as ferrocenyl, cobaltocenyl, nickelocenyl,    ruthenocenyl, osmocenyl, or titanocenyl.

As examples of the substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxy group tosubstitute a ring AR, a heteroaryloxy group which may have an alkylgroup as mentioned above as a substituent or heteroaryloxy group whichmay have the same substituent as the alkyl group as mentioned above mayhave, may be mentioned. Preferable examples include unsubstitutedheteroaryloxy such as furanyloxy, pyrrolyloxy, 3-pyrrolinoxy,pyrazolyloxy, imidazolyloxy, oxazolyloxy, thiazolyloxy,1,2,3-oxadiazolyloxy, 1,2,3-triazolyloxy, 1,2,4-triazolyloxy,1,3,4-thiadiazolyloxy, pyridinyloxy, pyridazinyloxy, pyrimidinyloxy,pyrazinyloxy, piperazinyloxy, triazinyloxy, benzofuranyloxy, indolyloxy,thionaphthenyloxy, benzimidazolyloxy, benzothiazolyloxy,benzotriazol-2-yloxy, benzotriazol-1-yloxy, purinyloxy, quinolinyloxy,isoquinolinyloxy, coumarinyloxy, cinnolinyloxy, quinoxalinyloxy,dibenzofuranyloxy, carbazolyloxy, phenanthrolinyloxy, phenothiazinyloxy,flavonyloxy, phthalimidyloxy, or naphthylimidyloxy;

-   or heteroaryloxy substituted by following substituents:-   halogen such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodide;-   cyano;-   alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl,    octyl, decyl, methoxymethyl, ethoxyethyl, ethoxyethyl, or    trifluoromethyl;-   aralkyl such as benzyl or phenethyl;-   aryl such as phenyl, tolyl, naphthyl, xylyl, mesyl, chlorophenyl, or    methoxyphenyl;-   alkoxy such as methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, pentoxy, hexyloxy,    heptyloxy, octyloxy, nonyloxy, decyloxy, 2-ethylhexyloxy,    3,5,5-trimethylhexyloxy, ferrocenemethoxy, cobaltocenemethoxy, or    nickelocenemethoxy;-   aralkyloxy such as benzyloxy or phenethyloxy;-   aryloxy such as phenoxy, tolyloxy, naphthoxy, xylyloxy, mesityloxy,    chlorophenoxy, or methoxyphenoxy;-   alkenyl such as vinyl, allyl, butenyl, butadienyl, pentenyl,    cyclopentadienyl, or octenyl;-   alkenyloxy such as vinyloxy, allyloxy, butenyloxy, butadienyloxy,    pentenyloxy, cyclopentadienyloxy, or octenyloxy;-   alkylthio such as methylthio, ethylthio, propylthio, butylthio,    pentylthio, hexylthio, heptylthio, octylthio, decylthio,    methoxymethylthio, ethoxyethylthio, ethoxyethylthio, or    trifluoromethylthio;-   aralkylthio such as benzylthio or phenethylthio;-   arylthio such as phenylthio, tolylthio, naphthylthio, xylylthio,    mesylthio, chlorophenylthio, or methoxyphenylthio;-   dialkylamino such as dimethylamino, diethylamino, dipropylamino, or    dibutylamino;-   acyl such as acetyl, propionyl, butanoyl, ferrocenecarbonyl,    cobaltocenecarbonyl, or nickelocenecarbonyl;-   alkoxycarbonyl such as methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl,    ferrocenemethoxycarbonyl, 1-methylferrocen-1′-ylmethoxycarbonyl,    cobaltocenylmethoxycarbonyl, or nickelocenylmethoxycarbonyl;-   aralkyloxycarbonyl such as benzyloxycarbonyl or    phenethyloxycarbonyl;-   aryloxycarbonyl such as phenoxycarbonyl, tolyloxycarbonyl,    naphthoxycarbonyl, xylyloxycarbonyl, mesyloxycarbonyl,    chlorophenoxycarbonyl, or methoxyphenoxycarbonyl;-   alkenyloxycarbonyl such as vinyloxycarbonyl, allyloxycarbonyl,    butenyloxycarbonyl, butadienyloxycarbonyl, cyclopentadienyloxy,    pentenyloxycarbonyl, or octenyloxycarbonyl;-   alkylaminocarbonyl such as monoalkylaminocarbonyl having 2 to 10    carbon atoms such as methylaminocarbonyl, ethylaminocarbonyl,    propylaminocarbonyl, butylaminocarbonyl, pentylaminocarbonyl,    hexylaminocarbonyl, heptylaminocarbonyl, octylaminocarbonyl,    nonylaminocarbonyl, 3,5,5-trimethylhexylaminocarbonyl, or    2-ethylhexylaminocarbonyl, and dialkylaminocarbonyl having 3 to 20    carbon atoms such as dimethylaminocarbonyl, diethylaminocarbonyl,    dipropylaminocarbonyl, dibutylaminocarbonyl, dipentylaminocarbonyl,    dihexylaminocarbonyl, diheptylaminocarbonyl, dioctylaminocarbonyl,    piperidinocarbonyl, morpholinocarbonyl, 4-methylpiperazinocarbonyl,    or 4-ethylpiperazinocarbonyl;-   heterocycle such as furanyl, pyrrolyl, 3-pyrrolino, pyrrolidino,    1,3-oxolanyl, pyrazolyl, 2-pyrazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl, imidazolyl,    oxazolyl, thiazolyl, 1,2,3-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,3-triazolyl,    1,2,4-triazolyl, 1,3,4-thiadiazolyl, 4H-pyranyl, pyridinyl,    piperidinyl, dioxanyl, morpholinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl,    pyrazinyl, piperazinyl, triazinyl, benzofuranyl, indolyl,    thionaphthenyl, benzimidazolyl, benzothiazolyl, purinyl, quinolinyl,    isoquinolinyl, coumarinyl, cinnolinyl, quinoxalinyl, dibenzofuranyl,    carbazolyl, phenanthrolinyl, phenothiazinyl, or flavonyl; and-   metallocenyl such as ferrocenyl, cobaltocenyl, nickelocenyl,    ruthenocenyl, osmocenyl, or titanocenyl.

As examples of the substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxycarbonylgroup to substitute a ring AR, a heteroaryloxycarbonyl group which mayhave an alkyl group as mentioned above as a substituent or aheteroaryloxycarbonyl group which may have the same substituent as thealkyl group as mentioned above may have, may be mentioned. Preferableexamples include unsubstituted heteroaryloxycarbonyl such asfuranyloxycarbonyl, pyrrolyloxycarbonyl, 3-pyrrolinoxycarbonyl,pyrazolyloxycarbonyl, imidazolyloxycarbonyl, oxazolyloxycarbonyl,thiazolyloxycarbonyl, 1,2,3-oxadiazolyloxycarbonyl,1,2,3-triazolyloxycarbonyl, 1,2,4-triazolyloxycarbonyl,1,3,4-thiadiazolyloxycarbonyl, pyridinyloxycarbonyl,pyridazinyloxycarbonyl, pyrimidinyloxycarbonyl, pyrazinyloxycarbonyl,piperazinyloxycarbonyl, triazinyloxycarbonyl, benzofuranyloxycarbonyl,indolyloxycarbonyl, thionaphthenyloxycarbonyl,benzimidazolyloxycarbonyl, benzothiazolyloxycarbonyl,benzotriazol-2-yloxycarbonyl, benzotriazol-1-yloxycarbonyl,purinyloxycarbonyl, quinolinyloxycarbonyl, isoquinolinyloxycarbonyl,coumarinyloxycarbonyl, cinnolinyloxycarbonyl, quinoxalinyloxycarbonyl,dibenzofuranyloxycarbonyl, carbazolyloxycarbonyl,phenanthrolinyloxycarbonyl, phenothiazinyloxycarbonyl,flavonyloxycarbonyl, phthalimidyloxycarbonyl, ornaphthylimidyloxycarbonyl;

-   or heteroaryloxycarbonyl substituted by following substituents:-   halogen such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodide;-   cyano;-   alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl,    octyl, decyl, methoxymethyl, ethoxyethyl, ethoxyethyl, or    trifluoromethyl;-   aralkyl such as benzyl or phenethyl;-   aryl such as phenyl, tolyl, naphthyl, xylyl, mesyl, chlorophenyl, or    methoxyphenyl;-   alkoxy such as methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, pentoxy, hexyloxy,    heptyloxy, octyloxy, nonyloxy, decyloxy, 2-ethylhexyloxy,    3,5,5-trimethylhexyloxy, ferrocenemethoxy, cobaltocenemethoxy, or    nickelocenemethoxy;-   aralkyloxy such as benzyloxy or phenethyloxy;-   aryloxy such as phenoxy, tolyloxy, naphthoxy, xylyloxy, mesityloxy,    chlorophenoxy, or methoxyphenoxy;-   alkenyl such as vinyl, allyl, butenyl, butadienyl, pentenyl,    cyclopentadienyl, or octenyl;-   alkenyloxy such as vinyloxy, allyloxy, butenyloxy, butadienyloxy,    pentenyloxy, cyclopentadienyloxy, or octenyloxy;-   alkylthio such as methylthio, ethylthio, propylthio, butylthio,    pentylthio, hexylthio, heptylthio, octylthio, decylthio,    methoxymethylthio, ethoxyethylthio, ethoxyethylthio, or    trifluoromethylthio;-   aralkylthio such as benzylthio or phenethylthio;-   arylthio such as phenylthio, tolylthio, naphthylthio, xylylthio,    mesylthio, chlorophenylthio, or methoxyphenylthio;-   dialkylamino such as dimethylamino, diethylamino, dipropylamino, or    dibutylamino;-   acyl such as acetyl, propionyl, butanoyl, ferrocenecarbonyl,    cobaltocenecarbonyl, or nickelocenecarbonyl;-   alkoxycarbonyl such as methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl,    ferrocenemethoxycarbonyl, 1-methylferrocen-1′-ylmethoxycarbonyl,    cobaltocenylmethoxycarbonyl, or nickelocenylmethoxycarbonyl;-   aralkyloxycarbonyl such as benzyloxycarbonyl or    phenethyloxycarbonyl;-   aryloxycarbonyl such as phenoxycarbonyl, tolyloxycarbonyl,    naphthoxycarbonyl, xylyloxycarbonyl, mesyloxycarbonyl,    chlorophenoxycarbonyl, or methoxyphenoxycarbonyl;-   alkenyloxycarbonyl such as vinyloxycarbonyl, allyloxycarbonyl,    butenyloxycarbonyl, butadienyloxycarbonyl, cyclopentadienyloxy,    pentenyloxycarbonyl, or octenyloxycarbonyl;-   alkylaminocarbonyl such as monoalkylaminocarbonyl having 2 to 10    carbon atoms such as methylaminocarbonyl, ethylaminocarbonyl,    propylaminocarbonyl, butylaminocarbonyl, pentylaminocarbonyl,    hexylaminocarbonyl, heptylaminocarbonyl, octylaminocarbonyl,    nonylaminocarbonyl, 3,5,5-trimethylhexylaminocarbonyl, or    2-ethylhexylaminocarbonyl, and dialkylaminocarbonyl having 3 to 20    carbon atoms such as dimethylaminocarbonyl, diethylaminocarbonyl,    dipropylaminocarbonyl, dibutylaminocarbonyl, dipentylaminocarbonyl,    dihexylaminocarbonyl, diheptylaminocarbonyl, dioctylaminocarbonyl,    piperidinocarbonyl, morpholinocarbonyl, 4-methylpiperazinocarbonyl,    or 4-ethylpiperazinocarbonyl;-   heterocycle such as furanyl, pyrrolyl, 3-pyrrolino, pyrrolidino,    1,3-oxolanyl, pyrazolyl, 2-pyrazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl, imidazolyl,    oxazolyl, thiazolyl, 1,2,3-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,3-triazolyl,    1,2,4-triazolyl, 1,3,4-thiadiazolyl, 4H-pyranyl, pyridinyl,    piperidinyl, dioxanyl, morpholinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl,    pyrazinyl, piperazinyl, triazinyl, benzofuranyl, indolyl,    thionaphthenyl, benzimidazolyl, benzothiazolyl, purinyl, quinolinyl,    isoquinolinyl, coumarinyl, cinnolinyl, quinoxalinyl, dibenzofuranyl,    carbazolyl, phenanthrolinyl, phenothiazinyl, or flavonyl; and-   metallocenyl such as ferrocenyl, cobaltocenyl, nickelocenyl,    ruthenocenyl, osmocenyl, or titanocenyl.

As examples of the substituted or unsubstituted heteroarylthio group tosubstitute a ring AR, a heteroarylthio group which may have an alkylgroup as mentioned above as a substituent or a heteroarylthio groupwhich may have the same substituent as the alkyl group as mentionedabove may have, may be mentioned. Preferable examples includeunsubstituted heteroarylthio such as furanylthio, pyrrolylthio,3-pyrrolinothio, pyrazolylthio, imidazolylthio, oxazolylthio,thiazolylthio, 1,2,3-oxadiazolylthio, 1,2,3-triazolylthio,1,2,4-triazolylthio, 1,3,4-thiadiazolylthio, pyridinylthio,pyridazinylthio, pyrimidinylthio, pyrazinylthio, piperazinylthio,triazinylthio, benzofuranylthio, indolylthio, thionaphthenylthio,benzimidazolylthio, benzothiazolylthio, benzotriazol-2-ylthio,benzotriazol-1-ylthio, purinylthio, quinolinylthio, isoquinolinylthio,coumarinylthio, cinnolinylthio, quinoxalinylthio, dibenzofuranylthio,carbazolylthio, phenanthrolinylthio, phenothiazinylthio, flavonylthio,phthalimidylthio, or naphthylimidylthio;

-   or heteroarylthio substituted by following substituents:-   halogen such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodide;-   cyano;-   alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl,    octyl, decyl, methoxymethyl, ethoxyethyl, ethoxyethyl,    trifluoromethyl;-   aralkyl such as benzyl or phenethyl;-   aryl such as phenyl, tolyl, naphthyl, xylyl, mesyl, chlorophenyl, or    methoxyphenyl;-   alkoxy such as methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, pentoxy, hexyloxy,    heptyloxy, octyloxy, nonyloxy, decyloxy, 2-ethylhexyloxy,    3,5,5-trimethylhexyloxy, ferrocenemethoxy, cobaltocenemethoxy, or    nickelocenemethoxy;-   aralkyloxy such as benzyloxy or phenethyloxy;-   aryloxy such as phenoxy, tolyloxy, naphthoxy, xylyloxy, mesityloxy,    chlorophenoxy, or methoxyphenoxy;-   alkenyl such as vinyl, allyl, butenyl, butadienyl, pentenyl,    cyclopentadienyl, or octenyl;-   alkenyloxy such as vinyloxy, allyloxy, butenyloxy, butadienyloxy,    pentenyloxy, cyclopentadienyloxy, or octenyloxy;-   alkylthio such as methylthio, ethylthio, propylthio, butylthio,    pentylthio, hexylthio, heptylthio, octylthio, decylthio,    methoxymethylthio, ethoxyethylthio, ethoxyethylthio, or    trifluoromethylthio;-   aralkylthio such as benzylthio or phenethylthio;-   arylthio such as phenylthio, tolylthio, naphthylthio, xylylthio,    mesylthio, chlorophenylthio, or methoxyphenylthio;-   dialkylamino such as dimethylamino, diethylamino, dipropylamino, or    dibutylamino;-   acyl such as acetyl, propionyl, butanoyl, ferrocenecarbonyl,    cobaltocenecarbonyl, or nickelocenecarbonyl;-   alkoxycarbonyl such as methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl,    ferrocenemethoxycarbonyl, 1-methylferrocen-1′-ylmethoxycarbonyl,    cobaltocenylmethoxycarbonyl, or nickelocenylmethoxycarbonyl;-   aralkyloxycarbonyl such as benzyloxycarbonyl or    phenethyloxycarbonyl;-   aryloxycarbonyl such as phenoxycarbonyl, tolyloxycarbonyl,    naphthoxycarbonyl, xylyloxycarbonyl, mesyloxycarbonyl,    chlorophenoxycarbonyl, or methoxyphenoxycarbonyl;-   alkenyloxycarbonyl such as vinyloxycarbonyl, allyloxycarbonyl,    butenyloxycarbonyl, butadienyloxycarbonyl, cyclopentadienyloxy,    pentenyloxycarbonyl, or octenyloxycarbonyl;-   alkylaminocarbonyl such as monoalkylaminocarbonyl having 2 to 10    carbon atoms such as methylaminocarbonyl, ethylaminocarbonyl,    propylaminocarbonyl, butylaminocarbonyl, pentylaminocarbonyl,    hexylaminocarbonyl, heptylaminocarbonyl, octylaminocarbonyl,    nonylaminocarbonyl, 3,5,5-trimethylhexylaminocarbonyl, or    2-ethylhexylaminocarbonyl, and dialkylaminocarbonyl having 3 to 20    carbon atoms such as dimethylaminocarbonyl, diethylaminocarbonyl,    dipropylaminocarbonyl, dibutylaminocarbonyl, dipentylaminocarbonyl,    dihexylaminocarbonyl, diheptylaminocarbonyl, dioctylaminocarbonyl,    piperidinocarbonyl, morpholinocarbonyl, 4-methylpiperazinocarbonyl,    or 4-ethylpiperazinocarbonyl;-   heterocycle such as furanyl, pyrrolyl, 3-pyrrolino, pyrrolidino,    1,3-oxolanyl, pyrazolyl, 2-pyrazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl, imidazolyl,    oxazolyl, thiazolyl, 1,2,3-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,3-triazolyl,    1,2,4-triazolyl, 1,3,4-thiadiazolyl, 4H-pyranyl, pyridinyl,    piperidinyl, dioxanyl, morpholinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl,    pyrazinyl, piperazinyl, triazinyl, benzofuranyl, indolyl,    thionaphthenyl, benzimidazolyl, benzothiazolyl, purinyl, quinolinyl,    isoquinolinyl, coumarinyl, cinnolinyl, quinoxalinyl, dibenzofuranyl,    carbazolyl, phenanthrolinyl, phenothiazinyl, or flavonyl;-   metallocenyl such as ferrocenyl, cobaltocenyl, nickelocenyl,    ruthenocenyl, osmocenyl, or titanocenyl.

As examples of the substituted or unsubstituted metallocenyl group tosubstitute a ring AR, a metallocenyl group which may have an alkyl groupas mentioned above as a substituent, a metallocenyl group which may havethe same substituent as the alkyl group as mentioned above may have, ora metallocenyl group having a phosphino group having a substituent, maybe mentioned. Specific examples include metallocenyl groups representedby a formula (12) below:

wherein M⁵ represents a monovalent or bivalent transition metal atom;Q⁵⁰ to Q⁵⁹ each represent independently a single bond, a halogen atom,substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring, substituted orunsubstituted alkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substitutedor unsubstituted aralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, substituted orunsubstituted acyl, substituted or unsubstituted acyloxy, substituted orunsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted amino, or phosphino having a substituent;or, two or more substituents selected from Q⁵⁰ to Q ⁵⁹ each mayindependently be bonded via a linking group to form a cyclic structuretogether with carbon atoms to which they are attached; X⁵ represents ahalogen atom or CO; n⁵¹ represents 0 or 1, with the proviso that atleast one of Q⁵⁰ to Q⁵⁹ is a single bond.

A monovalent or bivalent transition metal represented by M⁵ is notparticularly restricted as long as it is a metal constitutingmetallocene, but preferably includes Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt, Os,Mn, Cr, W, V, Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Er, Tm and Yb; morepreferably metal atoms of group VIII, and most preferably, Fe.

Specific examples represented by Q⁵⁰ to Q⁵⁹, of halogen, substituted orunsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, substitutedor unsubstituted aromatic ring, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedaryloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted orunsubstituted aralkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio,substituted or unsubstituted acyl, substituted or unsubstituted acyloxy,substituted or unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted amino, substituted orunsubstituted alkenyl, are the same groups as those mentioned abovewhich may substitute AR.

The phosphino group having a substituent represented by Q⁵⁰ to Q⁵⁹ is aphosphino group which may have an alkyl group as mentioned above as asubstituent or a phosphino group which may have the same substituent asthe alkyl group as mentioned above may have. Specific examples includedialkylphosphino groups such as dimethylphosphino, diethylphosphino,dipropylphosphino, dibutylphosphino, dipentylphosphino, anddihexylphosphino; alkylarylphosphino groups such asP-methyl-P-phenylphosphino; and diarylphosphino groups such asdiphenylphosphino, and phenyl-3,5-xylylphosphino.

Examples of a halogen atom represented by X⁵ include fluorine, chlorine,bromine and iodine.

Furthermore, two or more substituents selected from the substituents ona ring AR each independently may bond to each other via a linking group(referred to as “T”) to form a cyclic structure with each atom at theposition substituted by each substituent. Specific examples of thecyclic structure thus formed include carbocyclic aliphatic, heterocyclicaliphatic, carbocyclic aromatic and heterocyclic aromatic rings, and aplanar or cubic cyclic structure desirably formed by appropriatelycombining these.

Examples of the residue formed by combining two or more aromatic ringresidues represented by ring AR via one or more linking groups T includea residue formed by selecting two or more aromatic rings fromsubstituted or unsubstituted carbocyclic aromatic ring or substituted orunsubstituted heterocyclic aromatic ring and combining them via one ormore linking groups.

Examples of the linking group T for combining two or more aromatic ringsinclude a single bond or a group formed by appropriately combiningelements selected from carbon atom, hetero atoms such as nitrogen,oxygen, sulfur, phosphorus, a metal atom and a semimetal atom, andhydrogen atom. Preferably, examples of the linking group include bi- todecavalent linking groups formed by combining one or more linking groupsselected from

bivalent linking groups such as

represent hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyl, or substituted or unsubstituted aryl, asubstituted or unsubstituted bivalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group andsubstituted or unsubstituted bivalent aromatic ring;

trivalent linking groups such as a nitrilo group, boron atom, andphosphorus atom;

tetravalent linking groups such as a spiro carbon atom, and spirosilicon atom;

bi- to octavalent metal atoms such as a representative metal atom andtransition metal atom; and

bi- to decavalent linking groups such as a bi- to decavalent substitutedor unsubstituted metallocene residue.

Examples of the substituted or unsubstituted bivalent aliphatichydrocarbon group preferably include linear, branched, or cyclicbivalent saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon or unsaturated aliphatichydrocarbon having 1 to 20 carbon atoms. They may have, between C—C bondin a substituent substituting to the bivalent aliphatic hydrocarbongroup, an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom that may have oxygen atom, asubstituted or unsubstituted imino group, a carbonyl group, athiacarbonyl group, and a metal atom. Preferable examples of bivalentaliphatic hydrocarbon groups include substituted or unsubstitutedalkylene having 1 to 16 carbon atoms such as methylene, ethylene,1,2-dichloroethylene, trimethylene, tetramethylene, pentamethylene,cyclopentylene, hexamethylene, cyclohexylene, heptamethylene,octamethylene, nonamethylene, decamethylene, undecamethylene,dodecamethylene, tridecamethylene, tetradecamethylene, andpentadecamethylene; substituted or unsubstituted alkenylene groupshaving 2 to 10 carbon atoms such as vinylene, 1,2-dichlorovinylene,propenylene, 1-butenylene, 1-pentenylene, 2-pentenylene, and decanylene;and substituted or unsubstituted alkynylene groups having 2 to 12 carbonatoms such as ethynylene, propynylene, 1,3-butadiynylene,1,2-bisethyleneoxycarbonylethyne, 1,2-bispropyleneoxycarbonylethyne, and1,2-bisbutyleneoxycarbonylethyne.

Examples of a ring constituting a substituted or unsubstituted bivalentaromatic ring group include substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclicaromatic rings and heterocyclic aromatic rings as mentioned above.Preferable examples of the substituted or unsubstituted bivalentaromatic ring group include bivalent aromatic hydrocarbon such asphenylene, naphthylene, indenylene, anthracenylene, fluorenylene,azulenylene, naphthacenylene, chrysenylene, pyrenylene, or perylenylene;

-   bivalent heterocycle such as furanylene, pyrrolylene,    3-pyrrolynylene, pyrrolidinylene, 1,3-oxolanylene, pyrazolylene,    2-pyrazolinylene, pyrazolidinylene, imidazolylene, oxazolylene,    thiazolylene, 1,2,3-oxadiazolylene, 1,2,3-triazolylene,    1,2,4-triazolylene, 1,3,4-thiadiazolylene, 4H-pyranylene,    pyridinylene, piperidinylene, dioxanylene, morpholinylene,    pyridazinylene, pyrimidinylene, pyrazinylene, piperazinylene,    triazinylene, benzofuranylene, indolylene, thionaphthenylene,    benzimidazolylene, benzothiazolylene, purinylene, quinolinylene,    isoquinolylene, coumarinylene, cinnolinylene, quinoxalinylene,    dibenzofuranylene, carbazolylene, phenanthronylene,    phenothiadinylene, flavonylene, or perimidylene;-   bivalent metallocenylene such as ferrocenylene, cobaltocenylene,    nickelocenylene, dichlorotitanocenylene, trichlorotitanium    cyclopentadienylene, bis(trifluoromethanesulfonato)titanocenylene,    dichlorozirconocenylene, dimethylzirconocenylene,    diethoxyzirconocenylene, bis(cyclopentadienylene)chromium,    bis(cyclopentadienylene)dichloromolybdenum,    bis(cyclopentadienylene)dichlorohafnium,    bis(cyclopentadienylene)dichloroniobium,    bis(cyclopentadienylene)ruthenium, bis(cyclopentadienylene)vanadium,    bis(cyclopentadienylene)dichlorovanadium, octamethylferrocenylene,    octamethylcobaltocenylene, or octamethylnickelocenylene.

Examples of bi- to octavalent metal atoms include representative metalatoms of IIA to VIA, IB and IIB groups in the periodic table andtransition metal atoms having from 2 to 8 valences of IIIA to VIIIgroups in the periodic table. Preferable examples include Be, Mg, Ca,Sr, Ba, Ra, Al, Ga, In, Tl, Ge, Sn, Pb, Sb, Bi, Po, Sc, Y, Ti, Zr, Hf,V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Tc, Re, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt,Cu, Ag, Au, Zn, Cd, Hg, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er,Tm, Yb, Lu, Ac, Th, Pa, U, Np, Pu, Am, Cm, Bk, Cf, Es, Fm, Md, No, andLr.

Examples of a substituted or unsubstituted metallocene residue having 2to 10 valences are metallocene residues represented by the followinggeneral formula (13):

wherein M⁶ represents a monovalent or bivalent transition metal atom;Q⁶⁰ to Q⁶⁹ each represent independently a single bond, a halogen atom,substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring, substituted orunsubstituted alkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substitutedor unsubstituted aralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, substituted orunsubstituted acyl, substituted or unsubstituted acyloxy, substituted orunsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted amino or, phosphino having a substituent;X⁶ represents a halogen atom or CO; n⁶ represents 0 or 1, with theproviso that at least two or more of Q⁶⁰ to Q⁶⁹ are single bonds.

Specific examples of a monovalent or bivalent transition metal atomrepresented by M⁶ are the same as those represented by M⁵ of the formula(12) mentioned above.

Specific examples represented by Q⁶⁰ to Q⁶⁹, of a halogen atom,substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring, substituted orunsubstituted alkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substitutedor unsubstituted aralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, substituted orunsubstituted acyl, substituted or unsubstituted acyloxy, substituted orunsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted amino, or phosphino group having asubstituent, are those represented by Q⁵⁰ to Q⁵⁹ of the formula (12)mentioned above.

Specific examples of a halogen atom represented by X⁶ are thoserepresented by X⁵ of the formula (12) mentioned above.

Preferable examples of linkage mediated by the linking group T includethose represented by formula (15) and/or formula (16):

wherein R^(r1) to R^(r2) and R^(r3) to R^(r5) each independentlyrepresent either an substituent on the ring AR or an aromatic cyclicresidue constituting a ring AR; T¹ is a bivalent linking group; and T²is a trivalent linking group.

Specific examples of a linking group represented by T¹ preferablyinclude a group represented by any one of the following formulas (17):

wherein L is a single bond, substituted or unsubstituted bivalentaliphatic hydrocarbon, substituted or unsubstituted bivalent aromaticring, or —C(-Q)═N—; Q¹ and Q² each independently represent a hydrogen orhalogen atom; a group selected from nitro, cyano, hydroxyl, mercapto,carboxyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring,substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy, substituted orunsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted aralkylthio,substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, or substituted or unsubstitutedamino; Q³ denotes a group represented by any one of —O-Q⁵-,—C(═O)—O-Q⁵-, and —O—C(═O)-Q⁵-; Q⁵ is a single bond, substituted orunsubstituted bivalent aliphatic hydrocarbon, or substituted orunsubstituted bivalent aromatic ring; Q⁴ is represented by any one of—CQ₂-, —CQ₂CQ₂-, —CQ═CQ-, —CQ₂-C(═O)—, —CQ₂CQ₂-C(═O)—, where Q is thesame as that mentioned above; and n is an integer of 0 to 4.

In the formula, examples of a linking group of substituted orunsubstituted bivalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group or substituted orunsubstituted bivalent aromatic ring group represented by L and Q⁵include the same groups as those mentioned in AR of the formula (1).

In the formula, with respect to —C(-Q)═N— represented by L, specificexamples of substituent Q include halogen, nitro, cyano, hydroxyl,mercapto, carboxyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring,substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy, substituted orunsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted aralkylthio,substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, or substituted or unsubstitutedamino as mentioned above.

Specific examples represented by Q¹ and Q², of the substituted orunsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, substitutedor unsubstituted aromatic ring, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedaryloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted orunsubstituted aralkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, andsubstituted or unsubstituted amino include the aforementionedsubstituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring, substituted orunsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxy,substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedalkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted aralkylthio, substituted orunsubstituted arylthio, and substituted or unsubstituted amino; and Q¹and Q² are preferably a hydrogen atom, and alkyl groups having from 1 to4 carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl.

Specific examples of a linking group represented by T¹ include a grouprepresented by the following formula (18) or (19):

wherein E¹⁸¹, E¹⁸², E¹⁹¹ and E¹⁹² represent linking groups; R¹⁸¹, R¹⁸²,R¹⁹¹, and R¹⁹² each independently represent a hydrogen or halogen atom,substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy,or substituted phosphino; and M¹⁸ and M¹⁹ represent a bivalenttransition metal atom.

In the general formulas (18) and (19), specific examples of linkinggroups represented by E¹⁸¹, E¹⁸², E¹⁹¹ and E¹⁹² include thoserepresented by the formulas (17) mentioned above.

Specific examples of a halogen atom, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, and substituted phosphinorepresented by R¹⁸¹, R¹⁸², R¹⁹¹, and R¹⁹² include the same halogen atom,substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, and substituted or unsubstitutedalkoxy as mentioned above.

Specific examples of bivalent transition metal atoms represented by M¹⁸and M¹⁹ include the same metal atoms as those represented by M⁵ of theformula (12).

Specific examples of a linking group represented by T² preferablyinclude groups represented by the following formula (20) or (21):

wherein L¹ to L⁶ each independently represent a linking group; Q⁶represents a hydrogen or halogen atom; a group selected from nitro,cyano, hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaromatic ring, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, and substituted orunsubstituted amino.

Specific examples of a linking group represented by L¹ to L⁶ includegroups represented by formulas (17) mentioned above.

Specific examples represented by Q⁶, of a halogen atom, substituted orunsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, substitutedor unsubstituted aromatic ring, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedaryloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted orunsubstituted aralkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, andsubstituted or unsubstituted amino include the same halogen atom,substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring, substituted orunsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxy,substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedalkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted aralkylthio, substituted orunsubstituted arylthio, and substituted or unsubstituted amino asmentioned above.

In the formula (1), n representing the number of imide groups binding toring AR denotes generally from 1 to 10, preferably from 1 to 3, and morepreferably from 1 to 2.

Specific examples of A¹ to A^(n) represented by A^(m) include the samehalogen atom, nitro, cyano, hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxyl, substituted orunsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, substitutedor unsubstituted aromatic ring, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedaryloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted orunsubstituted aralkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio,substituted or unsubstituted amino, and substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocenyl as those substituting for a ring AR.

Specific examples of substituted or unsubstituted metallocene residuecontained in at least one of substituents A¹ to A^(n) includemetallocene residues represented by a general formula (14):

wherein M⁷ represents monovalent to bivalent transition metal atom; Q⁷⁰to Q⁷⁹ each independently represent a single bond, a halogen atom,substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring, substituted orunsubstituted alkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substitutedor unsubstituted aralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, substituted orunsubstituted acyl, substituted or unsubstituted acyloxy, substituted orunsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted amino, or phosphino having a substituent;X⁷ represents a halogen atom or CO; n⁷ represents 0 or 1, with theproviso that at least one of Q⁷⁰ to Q⁷⁹ is a single bond.

Specific examples of a monovalent and bivalent transition metal atomsrepresented by M⁷ are the same metal atoms as the transition metalsrepresented by M⁵ of the formula (12) mentioned above.

Specific examples represented by Q⁷⁰ to Q⁷⁹, of a halogen atom,substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring, substituted orunsubstituted alkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substitutedor unsubstituted aralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, substituted orunsubstituted acyl, substituted or unsubstituted acyloxy, substituted orunsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted amino, and phosphino group having asubstituent represented by Q⁷⁰ to Q⁷⁹ are the same as of the formula(12) mentioned above.

Specific examples of a monovalent and bivalent transition metal atomrepresented by X⁷ are the same halogen atoms represented by X⁵ of theformula (12) mentioned above.

Note that at least one substituent selected from the substituents A¹ toA^(n) is preferably a group formed by bonding a substituted orunsubstituted metallocene group represented by the formula (14)mentioned above to a nitrogen atom of an imide group via a bivalentlinking group composed of at least one selected from the substituted orunsubstituted bivalent aliphatic hydrocarbon or substituted orunsubstituted bivalent aromatic ring groups; and more preferably, atleast one substituent selected from the substituents A¹ to A^(n) ispreferably a group formed by bonding a substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocene group to a nitrogen atom of an imide group via a substitutedor unsubstituted bivalent aromatic ring group.

A preferable form of an imide compound according to the presentinvention includes a compound represented by the following generalformula (2):

wherein a ring AR¹ represents an aromatic ring residue or a residueformed by combining two or more aromatic ring residues via one or moreone linking groups; n¹ and n² each independently represent 0 or 1; A¹¹,A²¹ and A³¹ each represent a substituent bonded to a nitrogen atom of animide group, with the proviso that at least one substituent selectedfrom the group consisting of A¹¹, A²¹ and A³¹ is one having one or moresubstituted or unsubstituted metallocene residue.

Specific examples of an aromatic ring residue represented by ring AR¹are the same groups as the aforementioned aromatic ring residuesrepresented by ring AR of the formula (1).

Specific examples of linking groups in the residue formed by combiningtwo or more aromatic ring residues via one or more linking groups arethe same groups as linking group T of the formula (1).

In the formula, preferable examples of n¹ and n² include a combinationof n¹=1 and n²=0 and a combination of n¹=0 and n²=1.

Specific examples of substituents each bonded to an imide group andrepresented by A¹¹, A²¹ or A³¹ are the same groups as substituentsrepresented by A^(m) in the formula (1).

A preferable form of an imide compound according to the presentinvention includes a compound represented by the following generalformula (3):

wherein R¹, R², R¹¹ to R¹⁵, and R²¹ to R²⁵ each independently representa hydrogen or halogen atom; a group selected from nitro, cyano,hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaromatic ring, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, substituted orunsubstituted amino, substituted or unsubstituted acyl, substituted orunsubstituted acyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aminocarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkenylthio, substituted orunsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted heteroarylthio, or substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocenyl; or, in a combination of R¹¹ to R¹⁵ and/or a combination ofR²¹ to R²⁵, two or more substituents selected from each of thecombinations may independently combine via a linking group within thesame combination to form a cyclic structure together with carbon atomsto which they are attached; G⁴¹ and G⁴² represent a bivalent linkinggroup selected from a single bond, substituted or unsubstituted bivalentaliphatic hydrocarbon, or substituted or unsubstituted bivalent aromaticring; n⁴ represents 0 or 1, with the proviso that at least one of R¹ andR² represents a group in which a substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocene residue bonds to the nitrogen atom of the imide group via abivalent linking group composed of at least one selected from asubstituted or unsubstituted bivalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group andsubstituted or unsubstituted bivalent aromatic ring group.

Specific examples represented by R¹, R², R¹¹ to R¹⁵, and R²¹ to R²⁵, ofhalogen, nitro, cyano, hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxyl, substituted orunsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, substitutedor unsubstituted aromatic ring, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedaryloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted orunsubstituted aralkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio,substituted or unsubstituted amino, substituted or unsubstituted acyl,substituted or unsubstituted acyloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedalkoxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted alkenyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaminocarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl, substituted orunsubstituted alkenyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkenylthio,substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstitutedheteroaryloxy, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted heteroarylthio, and substituted orunsubstituted metallocenyl are the same groups as the substituentssubstituting a ring AR of the formula (1) mentioned above.

Specific examples of the linking group where, in the combinations of R¹¹to R¹⁵ and/or R²¹ to R²⁵, two or more substituents selected from each ofthe combinations each independently combine via a linking group withinthe same combination to form a cyclic structure together with carbonatoms to which they are attached, are the same linking groups as thoseof T¹ of the formula (15) and T² of the formula (16).

Furthermore, in bivalent linking groups represented by G⁴¹ and G⁴²,examples of the substituted or unsubstituted bivalent aliphatichydrocarbon, and substituted or unsubstituted bivalent aromatic ring arethe same linking groups as those of T¹ of the formula (15).

Preferable examples of the bivalent linking groups represented by G⁴¹and G⁴² include a single bond, ethynylene, 1,4-phenylene, 1,3-phenylene,5-bromo-1,3-phenylene, 1,4-(2,3,5,6-tetramethyl)phenylene,4,4′-biphenylene, and 1,4-naphthylene. Furthermore, these groups may beappropriately combined to form a new bivalent linking.

Examples of alkyl, aralkyl or aromatic ring substituted by a substitutedor unsubstituted metallocene residue of R¹ and R² include theaforementioned substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyl, and substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ringsubstituted by generally 1 to 10, preferably 1 to 5 metallocene groupsof the formula (14). Furthermore, preferable examples of R¹ and R²include the aforementioned substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ringsubstituted by 1 to 3 metallocene groups of the formula (14).

Specifically preferable examples of R¹ and R² include aryl substitutedby a ferrocenylphenyl such as 2-ferrocenylphenyl, 3-ferrocenylphenyl,4-ferrocenylphenyl, 2,4-diferrocenylphenyl, 3,5-diferrocenylphenyl,2,6-diferrocenylphenyl, 2,4,6-triferrocenylphenyl,2-(3-ferrocenyl)ferrocenylphenyl, 3-(3-ferrocenyl)ferrocenylphenyl, and4-(3-ferrocenyl)ferrocenylphenyl; or aryl substituted by a ferrocenylgroup and bonded by an alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl,and 2,4-dimethyl-3-pentyl; an alkoxy group such as methoxy, ethoxy,n-propoxy, isopropoxy, and 2,4-dimethyl-3-pentyloxy group; or an aryloxygroup such as 9,9-dimethylfluoreneoxy group.

Particularly, a phenyl group having a metallocenyl group, such as aferrocenyl group bonded to at least the positions 2 and/or 4, ispreferable since it has an excellent stability to regeneration light.Particularly, the phenyl group having a metallocenyl group, such as aferrocenyl group bonded to the position 2, is more preferable since itcan provide a stable dye film and excellent in heat and moistureresistance.

Furthermore, a preferable form of an imide compound according to thepresent invention include a compound represented by the followinggeneral formula (4):

wherein R³, R⁴, R³¹ to R³³, and R⁴¹ to R⁴³ each independently representa hydrogen or halogen atom; a group selected from nitro, cyano,hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaromatic ring, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, substituted orunsubstituted amino, substituted or unsubstituted acyl, substituted orunsubstituted acyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aminocarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkenylthio, substituted orunsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted heteroarylthio, or substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocenyl; or, in a combination of R³¹ to R³³ and/or a combination ofR⁴¹ to R⁴³, two or more substituents selected from each of thecombinations may independently combine via a linking group within thesame combination to form a cyclic structure together with carbon atomsto which they are attached; G⁵¹ and G⁵² represent a bivalent linkinggroup selected from a single bond, substituted or unsubstituted bivalentaliphatic hydrocarbon group, and substituted or unsubstituted bivalentaromatic ring group; n⁵ represents 0 or 1, with the proviso that atleast one of R³ and R⁴ represents alkyl, aralkyl or aromatic ringsubstituted by a substituted or unsubstituted metallocene residue.

Specific examples represented by R³, R⁴, R³¹ to R³³, and R⁴¹ to R⁴³, ofhalogen, nitro, cyano, hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxyl, substituted orunsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, substitutedor unsubstituted aromatic ring, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedaryloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted orunsubstituted aralkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio,substituted or unsubstituted amino, substituted or unsubstituted acyl,substituted or unsubstituted acyloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedalkoxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted alkenyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaminocarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl, substituted orunsubstituted alkenyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkenylthio,substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstitutedheteroaryloxy, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted heteroarylthio, or substituted orunsubstituted metallocenyl are the same groups as the substituentssubstituting a ring AR of the formula (1) mentioned above.

Examples of the linking group where, in a combination of R³¹ to R³³and/or a combination of R⁴¹ to R⁴³, two or more substituents selectedfrom each of the combinations may independently combine via a linkinggroup within the same combination to form a cyclic structure togetherwith carbon atoms to which they are attached are the same linking groupsas those of T¹ of the formula (15) and T² of the formula (16).

Furthermore, in bivalent linking groups represented by G⁵¹ and G⁵²,examples of a substituted or unsubstituted bivalent aliphatichydrocarbon and substituted or unsubstituted bivalent aromatic ring arethe same linking groups as those of G⁴¹ and G⁴² of the formula (3)mentioned above.

Examples of alkyl, aralkyl or aromatic ring substituted by a substitutedor unsubstituted metallocene residue of R³ and R⁴ include the samegroups as alkyl, aralkyl, or aromatic ring substituted by a substitutedor unsubstituted metallocene group represented by R¹ and R².Furthermore, preferable examples of R³ and R⁴ include the same group asR¹ and R² of the formula (3).

Moreover, a preferable form of an imide compound according to thepresent invention includes a compound represented by the followinggeneral formula (5):

wherein R⁵⁰¹ to R⁵¹⁰ each independently represent a hydrogen or halogenatom; a group selected from nitro, cyano, hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring, substituted orunsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxy,substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedalkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted aralkylthio, substituted orunsubstituted arylthio, substituted or unsubstituted amino, substitutedor unsubstituted acyl, substituted or unsubstituted acyloxy, substitutedor unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aminocarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenylthio, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted orunsubstituted heteroaryloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedheteroaryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroarylthio, orsubstituted or unsubstituted metallocenyl; or, two or more substituentsselected from the combination of R⁵⁰¹ to R⁵¹⁰ may each independentlycombine via a linking group to form a cyclic structure together withcarbon atoms to which they are attached; R⁵ represents a group in whicha substituted or unsubstituted metallocene residue bonds to the nitrogenatom of the imide group via a bivalent linking group composed of atleast one selected from a substituted or unsubstituted bivalentaliphatic hydrocarbon or substituted or unsubstituted bivalent aromaticring; and X¹ and X² represent an integer of 0 to 2.

Specific examples represented by R⁵⁰¹ to R⁵¹⁰, of halogen, nitro, cyano,hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaromatic ring, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, substituted orunsubstituted amino, substituted or unsubstituted acyl, substituted orunsubstituted acyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aminocarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkenylthio, substituted orunsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted heteroarylthio, and substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocenyl are the same as the substituents substituting a ring AR ofthe formula (1) mentioned above.

Examples of the linking group where, two or more substituents selectedfrom the combination of R⁵⁰¹ to R⁵¹⁰ may each independently combine viaa linking group to form a cyclic structure together with carbon atoms towhich they are attached are the same linking groups as those of T¹ ofthe formula (15) and T² of the formula (16).

Examples of alkyl, aralkyl or aromatic ring substituted by a substitutedor unsubstituted metallocene residue represented by R⁵ include alkyl,aralkyl, or aromatic ring substituted by a substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocene group represented by R¹ and R² of the formula (3). Furtherpreferable examples of R⁵ include the same groups of R¹ and R² of theformula (3).

In a compound represented by the formula (5), two or more moleculesindependent of each other may be combined via a linking group T to forma single molecule. Preferable linking groups include those formed byappropriately combining carbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted imino,substituted or unsubstituted phenylene, and oxa.

A preferable form of an imide compound according to the presentinvention includes a compound represented by the following generalformula (6):

wherein R⁶⁰¹ to R⁶⁰⁸ each independently represent a hydrogen or halogenatom; a group selected from nitro, cyano, hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring, substituted orunsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxy,substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedalkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted aralkylthio, substituted orunsubstituted arylthio, substituted or unsubstituted amino, substitutedor unsubstituted acyl, substituted or unsubstituted acyloxy, substitutedor unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aminocarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenylthio, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted orunsubstituted heteroaryloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedheteroaryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroarylthio, orsubstituted or unsubstituted metallocenyl; or, in a combination of R⁶⁰¹to R⁶⁰⁴ and/or a combination of R⁶⁰⁵ to R⁶⁰⁸, two or more substituentsselected from each of the combinations may independently combine via alinking within the same combination to form a cyclic structure togetherwith carbon atoms to which they are attached; R⁶¹ and R⁶² represent agroup in which a substituted or unsubstituted metallocene residue bondsto the nitrogen atom of the imide group via a bivalent linking groupcomposed of at least one selected from a substituted or unsubstitutedbivalent aliphatic hydrocarbon and substituted or unsubstituted bivalentaromatic ring; and X³ and X⁴ represent an integer of 0 to 2.

Specific examples represented by R⁶⁰¹ to R⁶⁰⁸, of halogen atom, nitro,cyano, hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaromatic ring, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, substituted orunsubstituted amino, substituted or unsubstituted acyl, substituted orunsubstituted acyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aminocarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkenylthio, substituted orunsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted heteroarylthio, or substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocenyl are the same groups as substituents substituting a ring ARof the formula (1) mentioned above.

Examples of the linking group where, in a combination of R⁶⁰¹ to R⁶⁰⁴and/or a combination of R⁶⁰⁵ to R⁶⁰⁸, two or more substituents selectedfrom each of the combinations may independently combine via a linkinggroup within the same combination to form a cyclic structure togetherwith carbon atoms to which they are attached, are the same linkinggroups as those of T¹ of the formula (15) and T² of the formula (16).

Examples of alkyl, aralkyl or aromatic ring substituted by a substitutedor unsubstituted metallocene residue represented by R⁶¹ and R⁶² includethe same alkyl, aralkyl, or aromatic ring substituted by substituted orunsubstituted metallocene residue represented by R¹ and R² of theformula (3). Further preferable examples of R⁶¹ and R⁶² include the samegroups as R¹ and R² of the formula (3).

Furthermore, a preferable form of an imide compound according to thepresent invention includes a compound represented by the general formula(7) below:

wherein R⁷⁰¹ to R⁷¹⁴ each independently represent a hydrogen or halogenatom; a group selected from nitro, cyano, hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring, substituted orunsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxy,substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedalkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted aralkylthio, substituted orunsubstituted arylthio, substituted or unsubstituted amino, substitutedor unsubstituted acyl, substituted or unsubstituted acyloxy, substitutedor unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aminocarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenylthio, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted orunsubstituted heteroaryloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedheteroaryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroarylthio, orsubstituted or unsubstituted metallocenyl; or, in a combination of R⁷⁰¹to R⁷⁰⁵ and/or a combination of R⁷⁰⁶ to R⁷¹⁰, and/or combination of R⁷¹¹to R⁷¹⁵, two or more substituents selected from each of the combinationseach may independently combine via a linking group within the samecombination to form a cyclic structure together with carbon atoms towhich they are attached, with the proviso that any one or more groupsselected from R⁷⁰¹ to R⁷¹⁰ represent substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocenyl.

Specific examples represented by R⁷⁰¹ to R⁷¹⁴, of halogen, nitro, cyano,hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaromatic ring, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, substituted orunsubstituted amino, substituted or unsubstituted acyl, substituted orunsubstituted acyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aminocarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkenylthio, substituted orunsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted heteroarylthio, or substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocenyl are the same substituents as those for a ring AR of theformula (1) mentioned above.

Examples of the linking group where, in a combination of R⁷⁰¹ to R⁷⁰⁵and/or a combination of R⁷⁰⁶ to R⁷¹⁰, and/or combination of R⁷¹¹ toR⁷¹⁵, two or more substituents selected from each of the combinationseach may independently combine via a linking group within the samecombination to form a cyclic structure together with carbon atoms towhich they are attached are the same linking groups as those of T¹ ofthe formula (15) and T² of the formula (16).

Examples of a substituted or unsubstituted metallocene group representedby R⁷⁰¹ to R⁷¹⁰ include the same groups as a substituted orunsubstituted metallocene residue represented by R¹ and R² of theformula (3).

A preferable form of an imide compound according to the presentinvention includes an imide compound having a quinazoline residue, morepreferably, an imide compound having a quinazoline-4-on (or calledquinazolone). Specific examples include, as a tautomeric structure, acompound represented by the general formula (8):

wherein a ring AR² and ring AR³ represent a substituted or unsubstitutedaromatic ring residue or a residue formed by combining two or morearomatic ring residues via one or more linking groups; R⁸ represents ahydrogen atom or a substituent; n⁸ represents the number of imide groupsbonded to the ring AR2 and/or ring AR3; B^(b) represents a substituentof B¹ to B^(n8) bonded to a nitrogen atom of each imide group; and brepresents an integer of from 1 to n⁸, with the proviso that at leastone substituent selected from B¹ to B^(n8) is one having one or moresubstituted or unsubstituted metallocene residues.

Specific examples of an aromatic ring residue or a residue formed bycombining two or more aromatic ring residues via one or more linkinggroups, represented by a ring AR² and ring AR³, include the sameresidues as an aromatic ring residue or a residue formed by combiningtwo or more aromatic ring residues represented by a ring AR. As alinking group, the same linking group as linking group T of the formula(1) may be mentioned.

The number of imide groups represented by n⁸ is preferably 1 or 2, andmore preferably 1.

Specific examples of a substituent bonded to the nitrogen atom of eachimide group and represented by B^(b) are the same group as representedby A^(m) of the formula (1).

Specific examples of a substituent represented by R⁸ include the samegroup as a substituent represented by A^(m) of the formula (1).Preferable examples of a substituent include the aforementionedsubstituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyl, and substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring.

A compound represented by the general formula (8) of the presentinvention has as a tautomeric structure and may have a tautomer.Specific examples include structures represented by the followinggeneral formulas (8), (81), (82), and (83). In the present invention,the general formula (8) is employed for convenience' sake. Therefore,any compound having structures represented by the general formulas (8),(81), (82), and (83) or mixtures of compounds having the structuresrepresented by the general formulas (8), (81), (82), and (83) may beused without limitation.

A compound represented by the general formula (8) of the presentinvention where R⁸ is a hydrogen atom, may have tautomers of structuresrepresented by general formulas (8a), (81a), (82a) and (83a) below,general formulas (8b), (81b) and (82b) below, and general formulas (8c),(81c), (82c) and (83c) below. A compound represented by the generalformula (8) of the present invention may be a compound having astructure represented by general formula (8a), (81a), (82a) or (83a),general formula (8b), (81b) or (82b), or general formula (8c), (81c),(82c) or (83c) below, or a mixture of structures of general formulas(8a), (81a), (82a) or (83a), formulas (8b), (81b) or (82b) and formulas(8c), (81c), (82c) or (83c). These may be used without limitation.

Furthermore, a preferable form of an imide compound according to thepresent invention includes a compound represented by the followinggeneral formula (9):

wherein a ring AR⁴ represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromaticring residue or a residue formed by combining two or more aromatic ringresidues via one or more linking groups; R⁹ represents hydrogen,substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyl, or substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring; R⁹⁰¹ to R⁹⁰⁴each independently represent a hydrogen or halogen atom; a groupselected from nitro, cyano, hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxyl, substituted orunsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, substitutedor unsubstituted aromatic ring, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedaryloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted orunsubstituted aralkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio,substituted or unsubstituted amino, substituted or unsubstituted acyl,substituted or unsubstituted acyloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedalkoxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted alkenyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaminocarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl, substituted orunsubstituted alkenyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkenylthio,substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstitutedheteroaryloxy, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted heteroarylthio, or substituted orunsubstituted metallocenyl; or, in a combination of R⁹⁰¹ to R⁹⁰⁴, two ormore substituents selected from the combination may independentlycombine via a linking group to form a cyclic structure together withcarbon atoms to which they are attached; and R⁹¹ represents a group inwhich a substituted or unsubstituted metallocene residue bonds to thenitrogen atom of the imide via a bivalent linking group composed of atleast one selected from a substituted or unsubstituted bivalentaliphatic hydrocarbon and substituted or unsubstituted bivalent aromaticring.

Specific examples of an aromatic ring residue represented by a ring AR⁴include the same residues as an aromatic ring residue represented by aring AR of the formula (1).

Specific examples of a linking group in the residue formed by combiningtwo or more aromatic ring residues via one or more linking groups andrepresented by a ring AR⁴ include the same linking group as a linkinggroup T of the formula (1).

Specific examples of substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyl, and substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ringrepresented by R⁹ include the same group as substituents substituting aring AR of the formula (1).

Specific examples represented by R⁹⁰¹ to R⁹⁰⁴, of halogen, nitro, cyano,hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaromatic ring, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, substituted orunsubstituted amino, substituted or unsubstituted acyl, substituted orunsubstituted acyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aminocarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkenylthio, substituted orunsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted heteroarylthio, or substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocenyl include the same groups as substituents substituting a ringAR of the formula (1).

Examples of the linking group where, in a combination of R⁹⁰¹ to R⁹⁰⁴,two or more substituents selected from the combination may independentlycombine via a linking group to form a cyclic structure together withcarbon atoms to which they are attached include the same linking groupsas those of T¹ of the formula (15) and T² of the formula (16).

Examples of alkyl, aralkyl, or aromatic ring substituted by substitutedor unsubstituted metallocene represented by R⁹¹ include the same groupsas alkyl, aralkyl, or aromatic ring substituted by substituted orunsubstituted metallocene represented by R¹ or R² of the formula (3).Further, preferable examples of R⁹¹ include the same groups of R¹ and R²of the formula (3).

Examples of tautomers of compounds represented by the general formula(9) of the present invention include those having similar structurescorresponding to general formulas (8), (81), (82), and (83) and may alsoinclude a mixture of tautomers of the structures. These may be usedwithout limitation. In the general formula (9) where R⁹ is a hydrogenatom, examples of tautomers may include those having similar structurescorresponding to general formulas (8a), (81a), (82a), and (83a), generalformulas (8b), (81b), and (82b), and general formulas (8c), (81c),(82c), and (83c) below and may also include a mixture of tautomershaving individual structures. These may be used without limitation.

A preferable form of an imide compound according to the presentinvention includes, as a tautomeric structure, a quinazolone-phthaloncompound represented by the general formula (10):

wherein R¹⁰⁰ represents hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl or substituted or unsubstitutedaromatic ring; R¹⁰¹ to R¹¹¹ each independently represent a hydrogen orhalogen atom; a group selected from nitro, cyano, hydroxyl, mercapto,carboxyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring,substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy, substituted orunsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted aralkylthio,substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, substituted or unsubstitutedamino, substituted or unsubstituted acyl, substituted or unsubstitutedacyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted aminocarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxy, substituted orunsubstituted alkenylthio, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl,substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedheteroaryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroarylthio, orsubstituted or unsubstituted metallocenyl; or, in a combination of R¹⁰¹to R¹⁰⁵, and/or a combination of R¹⁰⁶ to R¹⁰⁹, two or more substituentsselected from each of the combinations may independently combine via alinking group in the same combination to form a cyclic structuretogether with carbon atoms to which they are attached, with the provisothat any one or more groups selected from R¹⁰¹ to R¹⁰⁵ representsubstituted or unsubstituted metallocenyl groups.

Specific examples of substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyl and substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ringrepresented by R¹⁰⁰ include the same groups as substituents substitutinga ring AR of the formula (1).

Specific examples represented by R¹⁰¹ to R¹¹¹, of halogen, nitro, cyano,hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaromatic ring, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, substituted orunsubstituted amino, substituted or unsubstituted acyl, substituted orunsubstituted acyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aminocarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkenylthio, substituted orunsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted heteroarylthio, and substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocenyl include the same groups as substituents substituting a ringAR of the formula (1).

Specific examples of a linking group where, in a combination of R¹⁰¹ toR¹⁰⁵, and/or a combination of R¹⁰⁶ to R¹⁰⁹, two or more substituentsselected from each of the combinations may independently combine via alinking group in the same combination to form a cyclic structuretogether with carbon atoms to which they are attached include the samelinking groups as those of T¹ of the formula (15) and T² of the formula(16).

Examples of substituted or unsubstituted metallocene represented by R¹⁰¹to R¹⁰⁵ include the same groups as the metallocene residues representedby R¹ and R² of the formula (3). Further preferable R¹⁰¹ to R¹⁰⁵ includethe same groups as those represented by R¹ and R² of the formula (3).

Examples of a tautomer of a compound represented by the general formula(10), include tautomers having similar structures corresponding to thegeneral formulas (8), (81), (82), and (83), and may include a mixture ofthe tautomers of individual structures. These may be used withoutlimitation. In the formula (10) where R¹⁰⁰ is a hydrogen atom, examplesof a tautomer include tautomers having similar structures correspondingto general formulas (8a), (81a), (82a) and (83a), general formulas (8b),(81b) and (82b), and general formulas (8c), (81c), (82c) and (83c) or amixture of the tautomers of individual structures. These may be usedwithout limitation.

A preferable form of an imide compound according to the presentinvention, as a tautomeric structure, includes a quinazoline-naphthalonecompound represented by the following general formula (11):

wherein R²⁰⁰ represents hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, or substituted or unsubstitutedaromatic ring; R²⁰¹ to R²¹³ each independently represent a hydrogen orhalogen atom; a group selected from nitro, cyano, hydroxyl, mercapto,carboxyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring,substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy, substituted orunsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted aralkylthio,substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, substituted or unsubstitutedamino, substituted or unsubstituted acyl, substituted or unsubstitutedacyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted aminocarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxy, substituted orunsubstituted alkenylthio, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl,substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedheteroaryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroarylthio, orsubstituted or unsubstituted metallocenyl; or, in a combination of R²⁰¹to R²⁰⁵, and/or a combination of R²⁰⁶ to R²⁰⁹, and/or a combination ofR²⁰¹ to R²⁰⁵, and/or a combination of R²¹² to R²¹³, two or moresubstituents selected from each of the combinations may independentlycombine via a linking group in the same combination to form a cyclicstructure together with carbon atoms to which they are attached, withthe proviso that any one or more groups selected from R²⁰¹ to R²⁰⁵represent substituted or unsubstituted metallocenyl groups.

Specific examples of substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyl, and substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ringrepresented by R²⁰⁰, include the same groups as substituentssubstituting a ring AR of the formula (1).

Specific examples represented by R²⁰¹ to R²¹³, of halogen, nitro, cyano,hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaromatic ring, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, substituted orunsubstituted amino, substituted or unsubstituted acyl, substituted orunsubstituted acyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aminocarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkenylthio, substituted orunsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxy,substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted heteroarylthio, and substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocenyl include the same groups as substituents substituting a ringAR of the formula (1).

Specific examples of a linking group where, in a combination of R²⁰¹ toR²⁰⁵, and/or a combination of R²⁰⁶ to R²⁰⁹, and/or a combination of R²¹⁰to R²¹¹, and/or a combination of R²¹² to R²¹³, two or more substituentsselected from each of the combinations may independently combine via alinking group in the same combination to form a cyclic structuretogether with carbon atoms to which they are attached include the samelinking groups as those of T¹ of the formula (15) and T² of the formula(16).

Examples of substituted or unsubstituted metallocene represented by R²⁰¹to R²⁰⁵ include the same groups as substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocene represented by R¹ and R² of the formula (3). Furtherpreferable R²⁰¹ to R²⁰⁵ include the same groups as those represented byR¹ and R² of the formula (3).

Examples of a tautomer of a compound represented by the general formula(11), includes tautomers having similar structures corresponding to thegeneral formulas (8), (81), (82), and (83), may also include a mixtureof the tautomers of individual structures. These may be used withoutlimitation.

In the formula (11) where R²⁰⁰ is a hydrogen atom, examples of atautomer include tautomers having similar structures corresponding toformulas (8a), (81a), (82a) and (83a), formulas (8b), (81b) and (82b),and formulas (8c), (81c), (82c) and (83c) and may also include a mixtureof the tautomers of individual structures. These may be used withoutlimitation.

Examples of an imide compound of the present invention for use in anoptical recording medium of the present invention include, but notlimited to compounds of A-1 to A-57, B-1 to B-70, C-1 to C-77, D-1 toD-115 and E-1.

An imide compound of the present invention for use in an opticalrecording medium of the present invention can be produced, for example,by the following method. An imide compound represented by the formula(1) can be prepared, for example, by subjecting a carboxylic acidanhydride represented by the following general formula (22) and/orcarboxylic acid obtained by hydrolysis thereof and an amine representedby the following general formula (23) to a reaction in the presence orabsence of a solvent, if necessary, with heating.

wherein a ring AR, A^(m), n and m are the same as those defined in thegeneral formula (1).

Furthermore, a compound represented by the formula (2) can be preparedby subjecting a 1,8-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid anhydride representedby the following general formula (24) and/or carboxylic acid obtained byhydrolysis thereof and an amine represented by the general formula (25)and/or the general formula (26) and/or the general formula (27) below toa reaction in the presence or absence of a solvent, if necessary, withheating.

wherein AR¹, n¹, n² and A¹¹ to A³¹ are the same as those defined in thegeneral formula (2).

Furthermore, a compound represented by the formula (3) can be preparedby subjecting a 1,8-naphthalene-dicarboxylic acid anhydride representedby the following general formula (28) and/or carboxylic acid obtained byhydrolysis thereof and an amine represented by the general formula (29)and/or the general formula (30) below to a reaction in the presence orabsence of a solvent, if necessary, with heating.

wherein R¹, R², R¹¹ to R¹⁵, R²¹ to R²⁵ and n⁴ are the same as thosedefined in the formula (3).

Furthermore, a compound represented by the formula (4) can be preparedby subjecting a 1,8-naphthalene-dicarboxylic acid anhydride representedby the following general formula (31) and/or carboxylic acid obtained byhydrolysis thereof and an amine represented by the general formula (32)and/or the general formula (33) below to a reaction in the presence orabsence of a solvent, if necessary, with heating.

wherein R³, R⁴, R³¹ to R³³, R⁴¹ to R⁴³ and n⁵ are the same as thosedefined in the formula (4).

Furthermore, a compound represented by the formula (5) can be preparedby subjecting a 1,8-naphthalene-dicarboxylic acid anhydride representedby the following general formula (34) and/or carboxylic acid obtained byhydrolysis thereof and an amine represented by the general formula (35)below to a reaction in the presence or absence of a solvent, ifnecessary, with heating.

wherein R⁵⁰¹ to R⁵¹⁰, R⁵, X¹ and X² are the same as those defined in thegeneral formula (5).

Furthermore, a compound represented by the general formula (6) can beprepared by subjecting a 1,8-naphthalene-dicarboxylic acid anhydriderepresented by the following general formula (36) and/or carboxylic acidobtained by hydrolysis thereof and an amine represented by the generalformula (37) and/or the general formula (38) below to a reaction in thepresence or absence of a solvent, if necessary, with heating.

wherein R⁶⁰¹ to R⁶⁰⁸, R⁶¹, R⁶², X³ and X⁴ are the same as those definedin the general formula (6).

Furthermore, a compound represented by the general formula (7) can beprepared by subjecting a 1,8-naphthalene-dicarboxylic acid anhydriderepresented by the following general formula (39) and/or carboxylic acidobtained by hydrolysis thereof and an amine represented by the generalformula (40) and/or the general formula (41) below to a reaction in thepresence or absence of a solvent, if necessary, with heating.

wherein R⁷⁰¹ to R⁷¹⁴ are the same as those defined in the generalformula (7).

Furthermore, an imide compound represented by the general formula (8)can be prepared by subjecting a carboxylic acid anhydride represented bythe following general formula (42) and/or carboxylic acid obtained byhydrolysis thereof and an amine represented by the general formula (43)to a reaction in the presence or absence of a solvent, if necessary,with heating.

wherein a ring AR², ring AR³, B^(b), R⁸, and n⁸ are the same as thosedefined in the general formula (8).

Furthermore, an imide compound represented by the general formula (9)can be prepared by subjecting a carboxylic acid anhydride represented bythe following general formula (44) and/or a carboxylic acid obtained byhydrolysis thereof and an amine represented by the following generalformula (45) to a reaction in the presence or absence of a solvent, ifnecessary, with heating.

wherein a ring AR⁴, R⁹⁰¹ to R⁹⁰⁴, and R⁹ and R⁹¹ are the same as thosedefined in the general formula (9).

Furthermore, an imide compound represented by the general formula (10)can be prepared by subjecting a carboxylic acid anhydride represented bythe following general formula (46) and/or a carboxylic acid obtained byhydrolysis thereof and an amine represented by the following generalformula (47) to a reaction in the presence or absence of a solvent, ifnecessary, with heating.

wherein R¹⁰⁰ to R¹¹¹ are the same as those defined in the generalformula (10).

Furthermore, an imide compound represented by the general formula (11)can be prepared by subjecting a carboxylic acid anhydride represented bythe following general formula (48) and/or carboxylic acid obtained byhydrolysis thereof and an amine represented by the following generalformula (49) to a reaction in the presence or absence of a solvent, ifnecessary, with heating.

wherein R²⁰⁰ to R²¹³ are the same as those defined in the generalformula (11).

A reaction solvent to be used in producing the compounds of the generalformulas (1) to (11) by the aforementioned synthesis is not particularlylimited as long as an imide can be formed in the solvent. Preferableexamples include organic carboxylic acids such as acetic acid, propionicacid, and butanoic acid; carbocyclic aromatic compounds such as1-chloronaphthalene, monochlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene andtrichlorobenzene, heterocyclic aromatic compounds such as quinoline andisoquinoline; amide series compounds such as N,N-dimethylformamide,N,N-dimethylacetoamide, N,N-dimethylimidazolidine-2-one, andN-methylpyrrolidine-2-one; and sulfur-containing compounds such assulfolane. Furthermore, if necessary, metal salts such as zinc acetateand zinc chloride may be used. The reaction may be generally performedat a temperature of from 0 to 400° C., preferably from 50 to 300° C.,more preferably from 100° C. to 250° C.

In an optical recording medium of the present invention, a recordinglayer is formed on a substrate. The recording layer contains at leastone type of imide compound according to the present invention. In theoptical recording medium of the present invention, write and read can beperformed by recording laser and regenerating laser having a wavelengthselected from the range of 300 to 900 nm. Of them, a recording laser andregenerating laser having a wavelength selected from the range of 390 to430 nm, more preferable 400 to 410 nm provides a good C/N ratio.Furthermore, satisfactory stability to regeneration light andhigh-quality signal characteristics can be obtained.

A dye of the recording layer constituting an optical recording medium ofthe present invention is formed of substantially one or more imidecompounds according to the present invention and may be mixed with acompound other than the aforementioned compounds having an absorptionmaximum within a wavelength of 290 to 690 nm and a large refractiveindex within a wavelength of 300 to 700 nm. Specific examples of such acompound include compounds of cyanine, squarylium, naphthoquinone,anthraquinone, tetra-pyra-porphyrazin, indophenol, pyrylium,thiopyrylium, azulenium, triphenyl methane, xanthene, indanthrene,indigo, thioindigo, merocyanine, thiazine, acridine, oxadine,dipyrromethene, oxazole, azaporphyrin, and porphyrin types; and mayinclude a mixture of a plurality of compounds. These compounds are mixedin an amount of about 0.1 to 30% by weight.

To form a recording layer, to an imide compound of the present inventionmay be added, if necessary, additive such as a quencher,compound-thermolysing accelerator, ultraviolet-ray absorbing agent,adhesive agent, endothermic or endothermically decomposing compound, ora polymer for improving dissolution, or a compound having such an effectcan be introduced as a substituent of an imide compound according to thepresent invention.

Specific examples of a quencher preferably include metal complexes suchas acetylacetonates, bisdithiols such as bisdithio-α-diketone orbisphenyldithiols, thiocatechonales, salicylaldehydeoxims, andthiobisphenolates. Also amines may be preferable.

A compound-thermolysing accelerator is not particularly limited as longas it can be verified by weight loss analysis (thermogravimetry) that itmay accelerate thermolysis of a compound. For example, metal containingcompounds such as metallic anti-knocking agents, metallocene compounds,and metal acetylacetonato complexes may be mentioned.

As an endothermic or endothermically decomposing compound, compoundsdescribed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-291366 or substitutedcompounds described in the publication may be mentioned.

Each of various types of quencher, compound-thermolysing accelerators,and endothermic or endothermically decomposing compounds mentioned abovemay be used singly or in a mixture of two or more elements, ifnecessary.

Furthermore, if necessary, additional substances such as a binder,leveling agent, and defoaming agent may be added. Furthermore,preferable examples of a binder include polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, nitrocellulose, cellulose acetate, ketone resin, acrylicresin, polystyrene resin, urethane resin, polyvinyl butyral,polycarbonate, and polyolefin.

When a recording layer is formed on a substrate, other layers formed ofan inorganic substance and a polymer, respectively, may be provided onthe substrate in order to improve solvent-resistance, reflectivity, andrecording sensitivity.

Although the content of an imide compound according to the presentinvention in the recording layer may be arbitrarily set as long as itattains write and read, usually the content is 30% or more andpreferably 60% or more. Incidentally, it is also preferable that thecontent be substantially 100%.

Examples of providing a recording layer include coating methods such asa spin coating, spraying, casting, slide coating, curtain coating,extrusion, wire coating, gravure coating, spreading, roller coating,knife coating, and soaking; sputtering method; chemical vapor depositionmethod; and vacuum vapor deposition method; however, a spin coatingmethod is simple and thus preferable.

When a coating method such as a spin coating method is used, a coatingsolution in which an imide compound according to the present inventionis dissolved or dispersed in a solvent in an amount of 1 to 40% byweight, preferably 3 to 30% by weight, is used. In this case, it ispreferable to choose as a solvent that will not damage a reflectinglayer. Examples of a solvent for use in coating include alcohol solventssuch as methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, octafluoro pentanol, allylalcohol, methyl cellosolve, ethyl cellosolve, and tetrafluoro propanol;aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbon solvents such as hexane, heptane,octane, decane, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, ethylcyclohexane, anddimethylcyclohexane; aromatic hydrocarbon solvents such as toluene,xylene, and benzene; halogenated hydrocarbon solvents such as carbontetrachloride, chloroform, tetrachloroethane, and dibromoethane; ethersolvents such as diethyl ether, dibutyl ether, diisopropyl ether, anddioxane; ketone solvents such as acetone, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-butanone;ester solvents such as ethyl acetate, and methyl lactate; and water.These may be used singly or in combination.

Incidentally, if necessary, a compound for a recording layer may be usedby dispersing it in a polymer thin film.

In the case where a solvent not damaging a substrate is not selected, asputter method, chemical vapor deposition method or vacuum vapordeposition method may be effective.

The film thickness of a recording layer is 10 to 1,000 nm and preferably20 to 300 nm. When the film thickness of the recording layer is setthinner than 10 nm, thermal diffusion may become large. As a result,write may not be performed or distortion of a recording signal mayoccur. In addition, signal amplitude sometimes decreases. On the otherhand, when the film thickness is thicker than 1,000 nm, the reflectivitydecreases and regeneration signal characteristics sometimes decrease.

Subsequently, on the recording layer, a reflecting layer preferablyhaving a thickness of 50 to 300 nm is formed. To increase thereflectivity and adhesiveness, a reflection-amplification layer andadhesive layer may be provided between the recording layer and thereflecting layer. As a material for the reflecting layer, metalsexhibiting a high reflectivity at a wavelength of regeneration lightsuch as Au, Al, Ag, Cu, Ti, Cr, Ni, Pt, Ta and Pd can be used singly orin the form of an alloy. Of them, Au, Ag and Al are preferable as amaterial for the reflecting layer since they have high reflectivities.When write and read is performed by a blue laser, Al or Ag ispreferable. Other than this, the following elements may be contained.For example, metals or semi metals such as Mg, Se, Hf, V, Nb, Ru, W, Mn,Re, Fe, Co, Rh, Ir, Zn, Cd, Ga, In, Si, Ge, Te, Pb, Po, Sn, and Bi maybe mentioned. A material containing Ag or Al as a main component ispreferable since a reflecting layer exhibiting a high reflectivity canbe easily obtained. Alternatively, a low-reflectivity thin film and ahigh-reflectively thin film are formed of non-metal materials and theyare alternately layered to form a multi-layered form, which may be usedas a reflecting layer.

Examples of a method for forming a reflecting layer include methods ofsputtering, ion-plating, chemical vapor deposition, and vacuum vapordeposition. Further on a substrate or under a reflecting layer, anintermediate layer and an adhesive layer of known inorganic or organicsubstances may be provided in order to improve the reflectivity,recording characteristics, stability to regeneration light, andadhesiveness.

A material for a protecting layer formed on the reflecting layer is notparticularly limited as long as it can protect the reflecting layer fromexternal force. Examples of an inorganic substance include SiO₂, Si₃N₄,MgF₂, AlN, SnO₂, and TiO₂. Examples of an organic substance includethermoplastic resin, thermosetting resin, electron beam curing resin,and ultraviolet-ray curing resin. In the case of a thermoplastic resinor thermosetting resin, a resin is dissolved in an appropriate solventto prepare a coating solution and thereafter the coating solution isapplied and dried to form a protecting layer. An ultraviolet-ray curingresin may be directly coated or after it is dissolved in an appropriatesolvent to prepare a coating solution, and the coating solution iscoated and then ultraviolet-ray is applied to cure, thereby forming aprotecting layer. As an ultraviolet-ray curing resin, acrylate resinssuch as urethane acrylate, epoxy acrylate, and polyester acrylate may beused. These materials may be used singly or in a mixture and may beformed into a single layer or a multi-layer film.

As a method of forming a protecting layer, the same methods as employedin forming a recording layer, that is, a coating method such as a spincoating and casting; sputtering method, and a chemical vapor depositionmethod may be used. Of them, a spin coating method is preferable.

The film thickness of a protecting layer generally falls within therange of 0.1 μm to 100 μm; however, in the present invention, it fallswithin the range of 3 to 30 μm, and more preferably 5 to 20 μm.

Further on the protecting layer, a label, bar cord or the like may beprinted.

Furthermore, on the reflecting layer surface, a protecting sheet or asubstrate may be adhered or two optical recording media may be adheredby making reflecting layer surfaces to face inward each other.

On the mirror surface of a substrate, an ultraviolet-ray curing resin,an inorganic thin film and the like may be formed for the protection ofthe surface, prevention of dust deposition, or the like.

When an optical recording medium as shown in FIG. 4 is prepared, areflecting layer of, preferably, 1 to 300 nm thick, is formed on asubstrate. To improve a reflectivity or adhesiveness, areflection-amplification layer and an adhesion layer may be providedbetween the recording layer and the reflecting layer. As a material forthe reflecting layer, metals exhibiting a high reflectivity at awavelength of regeneration light, metals such as Al, Ag, Ni and Pt maybe used singly or in the form of an alloy. Of them, Ag and Al arepreferable as a material for the reflecting layer since they have highreflectivities. Besides this, the following elements may be contained,if necessary. For example, metals or semi metals such as Mg, Se, Hf, V,Nb, Ru, W, Mn, Re, Fe, Co, Rh, Ir, Zn, Cd, Ga, In, Si, Ge, Te, Pb, Po,Sn, Bi, Au, Cu, Ti, Cr, Pd, and Ta may be mentioned. A metal materialcontaining Ag or Al as a main component and readily providing areflecting layer exhibiting a high reflectivity is preferable. It isalso possible that a multi-layer film is formed by alternately stackinga low-reflectivity thin film and a high-reflectively thin film formed ofnon-metal materials and used as a reflecting layer.

Examples of a method for forming a reflecting layer include methods ofsputtering, ion-plating, chemical vapor deposition, and vacuum vapordeposition. Further on a substrate or under a reflecting layer, anintermediate layer and an adhesive layer of known inorganic or organicsubstances may be provided in order to improve the reflectivity,recording characteristics, stability to regeneration light, andadhesiveness.

Next, when a recording layer is formed on a reflecting layer, a layerformed of an inorganic substance or a polymer may be provided on thereflecting layer in order to improve solvent-resistance, reflectivity,and recording sensitivity.

Although the content of an imide compound according to the presentinvention in the recording layer may be arbitrarily set as long as itattains write and read, usually the content is 30% by weight or more andpreferably 60% by weight or more. Incidentally, it is also preferablethat the content is substantially 100% by weight.

Examples of providing a recording layer include coating methods such asa spin coating, spraying, casting, slide coating, curtain coating,extrusion, wire coating, gravure coating, spreading, roller coating,knife coating, and soaking; sputtering method; chemical vapor depositionmethod; and vacuum vapor deposition method; however, a spin coatingmethod is simple and thus preferable.

When a coating method such as a spin coating method is used, a coatingsolution in which an imide compound according to the present inventionis dissolved or dispersed in a solvent in an amount of 1 to 40% byweight, preferably 3 to 30% by weight, is used. In this case, it ispreferable to choose as a solvent that will not damage a reflectinglayer. Examples of a solvent for use in coating include alcohol solventssuch as methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, octafluoro pentanol, allylalcohol, methyl cellosolve, ethyl cellosolve, and tetrafluoro propanol;aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbon solvents such as hexane, heptane,octane, decane, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, ethylcyclohexane, anddimethylcyclohexane; aromatic hydrocarbon solvents such as toluene,xylene, and benzene; halogenated hydrocarbon solvents such as carbontetrachloride, chloroform, tetrachloroethane, and dibromoethane; ethersolvents such as diethyl ether, dibutyl ether, diisopropyl ether, anddioxane; ketone solvents such as acetone, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-butanone;ester solvents such as ethyl acetate, and methyl lactate; and water.These may be used singly or in combination.

Incidentally, if necessary, a compound for a recording layer may be usedby dispersing it in a polymer thin film.

In the case where a solvent not damaging a reflecting layer is notselected, sputtering method, chemical vapor deposition method or vacuumvapor deposition method may be effective.

The film thickness of a recording layer is 1 to 1,000 nm and preferably5 to 300 nm. When the film thickness of a recording layer is set thinnerthan 1 nm, write may not be performed or distortion of a recordingsignal may occur. In addition, signal amplitude sometimes decreases. Onthe other hand, when the film thickness is thicker than 1,000 nm, thereflectivity decreases and regeneration signal characteristics sometimesdecrease.

A material for a protecting layer formed on a recording layer is notparticularly limited as long as it can protect the recording layer fromexternal adverse effects such as external force and atmosphere. Examplesof an inorganic substance include SiO₂, Si₃N₄, MgF₂, AlN, SnO₂, andTiO₂. Examples of an organic substance include thermoplastic resin,thermosetting resin, electron beam curing resin, and ultraviolet-raycuring resin. In a thermoplastic resin and thermosetting resin, a resinis dissolved in an appropriate solvent to prepare a coating solution andthereafter the coating solution is applied and dried to form aprotecting layer. An ultraviolet-ray curing resin may be directly coatedor after it is dissolved in an appropriate solvent to prepare a coatingsolution, and the coating solution is coated and then ultraviolet-ray isapplied to cure, thereby forming a protecting layer. As anultraviolet-ray resin, acrylate resins such as urethane acrylate, epoxyacrylate, and polyester acrylate may be used. These materials may beused singly or in a mixture and may be formed into a single layer or amulti-layer film.

As a method of forming a protecting layer, the same methods as employedin forming a recording layer, that is, a coating method such as a spincoating and casting; sputtering method, and a chemical vapor depositionmethod may be used. Of them, a spin coating method is preferable.

The film thickness of a protecting layer generally falls within therange of 0.01 to 1,000 μm; may be within the range of 0.1 to 100 μm, andfurther 1 to 20 μm, depending on conditions.

Furthermore, on the substrate surface, a protecting sheet or areflecting layer may be adhered or two optical recording media may beadhered by making substrate surfaces to face inward each other.

On the protecting layer side, an ultraviolet-ray curing resin, aninorganic thin film and the like may be formed for the protection of thesurface, prevention of dust deposition, or the like.

In an optical recording medium according to the present invention, toprotect the entire medium, a protecting unit such as a case forprotecting a disk may be provided, as is seen in a flexible disk andphotomagnetic disk. As a material, a plastic and a metal such asaluminum may be used.

As a material for a substrate, any material capable of transmitting thewavelength of recording light and regeneration light may be basicallyused. As a material for a support substrate, in consideration of thecase where a bluish-violet laser is applied through the substrate 11 asshown in FIG. 5, transparent materials including polymer materials suchas acrylic resin, polyethylene resin, polycarbonate resin, polyolefinresin, and epoxy resin; and inorganic materials such as glass, may beused. On the other hand, in the case where a laser is applied from theside of the light transmission layer 15′ opposite to the substrate 11′as is in the structure shown in FIG. 6, a material for the substrateneeds not satisfy the optical requirements and may be chosen from a widevariety of materials. In view of mechanical characteristics required fora substrate or substrate productivity, a material applicable toinjection molding or cast molding is preferable. Examples of such amaterial include an acrylic resin, polycarbonate resin and polyolefin.These substrate materials may be formed into a disk as a substrate byinjection molding or the like.

Furthermore, if necessary, on the surface of these substrates, guidegrooves and/or prepits of a submicron order may be spirally orconcentrically formed. These guide grooves and prepits are preferablyformed at the time the substrate is formed and may be formed byinjection molding using a stamper or a thermal transfer method using aphotopolymer. Guide grooves and/or prepits may be formed in the lighttransmission layer 15′ in FIG. 6 and may be provided in the same methodmentioned above. The pitch and depth of a guide groove in the case ofHD-DVD-R where recording is performed with a higher density than a DVD,are preferably selected from a pitch range of 0.25 to 0.80 μm and adepth range of 20 to 150 nm.

Generally, in the case of an optical disk, a disk having a thickness ofabout 1.2 mm and a diameter of about 80 to 120 mm may be used and a holeof about 15 mm diameter may be formed at the center.

The laser having a wavelength of 300 to 500 nm defined in the presentinvention is not particularly limited. Examples of the laser include dyelasers which can be selected from a wide wavelength range of visiblelight; gas lasers such as a nitrogen laser (337 nm); ion lasers such asa helium cadmium laser of 445 nm wavelength and an argon laser of 457 nmor 488 nm wavelength; and semiconductor lasers such as a GaN laser of400 to 410 wavelength, infrared lasers using Cr-doped LiSnAlF₆ of 860 nmwavelength and oscillating the second harmonic of 430 nm, andvisible-light semiconductor lasers having a wavelength of 415 nm and 425nm. In the present invention, a laser can be appropriately selecteddepending upon the wavelength to which the recording layer forperforming write and read can respond. High-density recording andregeneration can be made at a single wavelength or a plurality ofwavelengths selected from the lasers mentioned above.

Examples of the present invention will be described below, however, thepresent invention will not limited to these examples.

SYNTHETIC EXAMPLE 1 Synthesis of a Compound Represented by ReferenceNumber A-57

22 parts of 2-ferrocenyl aniline, 15 parts of perylene tetracarboxylicacid dianhydride, 6 parts of anhydrous zinc acetate, and 600 parts ofquinoline were added and reacted at 220° C. for 3 hours. The reactionmass was cooled to room temperature and discharged in 4,000 parts ofmethanol. After filtration, the filtrated matter was washed withmethanol and redissolved in chloroform. The solution was dried overanhydrous magnesium sulfate and subsequently subjected to silica gelchromatography (using a developing solution: chloroform/ethylacetate=9/1) to fractionate a target material. After condensation, theobtained solid matter is subjected to sludging with methanol, filtratedand dried to obtain 10 parts of a compound, which was confirmed as acompound represented by reference number A-57 by mass spectrometry.

SYNTHETIC EXAMPLE 2 Synthesis of a Compound Represented by ReferenceNumber B-69

28 parts of 4-ferrocenyl aniline, 13 parts of1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic acid dianhydride, 300 parts ofN,N-dimethylimidazolidine-2-one, and 30 parts of toluene, were added andreacted at 150° C. for 5 hours. The reaction mass was cooled to roomtemperature and discharged in 3,000 parts of water. After filtration,the filtrated matter was washed with water and dried. The solid matterwas subjected to silica gel chromatography (using chloroform as adeveloping solution) to fractionate a target material. Aftercondensation, recrystallization and drying steps were taken to obtain 6parts of a compound, which was confirmed as a compound represented byreference number B-69 by mass spectrometric analysis.

SYNTHETIC EXAMPLE 3 Synthesis of a Compound Represented by ReferenceNumber B-70

78 parts of 2-ferrocenyl-5-(2′,4′-dimethylpentane-3′-yl)oxyaniline, 34parts of 2-bromo-1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic acid dianhydride,300 parts of acetic acid, were added and reacted at 120° C. for 6 hours.The reaction mass was cooled to room temperature and discharged in 3,000parts of water. After filtration, the filtrated matter was washed withwater and dried. The solid matter was subjected to silica gelchromatography (using chloroform as a developing solution) tofractionate a target material. After condensation, recrystallization anddrying steps were taken to obtain 11 parts of a compound, which wasconfirmed as a compound represented by reference number B-70 by massspectrometry.

SYNTHETIC EXAMPLE 4 Synthesis of a Compound Represented by ReferenceNumber C-77

32 parts of 2,5-diferrocenyl aniline, 46 parts of3-(2′,4′-dimethylpentane-3′-yl)oxy-1,8 -naphthalic anhydride, and 600parts of N,N-dimethylimidazolidine-2-one, were added and reacted at 180°C. for 6 hours. The reaction mass was cooled to room temperature anddischarged in 3,000 parts of water. After filtration, the filtratedmatter was washed with water and dried. The solid matter was subjectedto silica gel chromatography (using chloroform as a developing solution)to fractionate a target material. After condensation, recrystallizationand drying steps were taken to obtain 45 parts of a compound, which wasconfirmed as a compound represented by reference number C-77 by massspectrometry.

SYNTHETIC EXAMPLE 5 Synthesis of a Compound Represented by ReferenceNumber D-1

To a mixture containing 36 parts of6-(4-oxo-3,4-dihydroquinazoline-2-yl)-2-oxa-s-indaceno-1,3,5,7-tetraone, 10 parts of 1,3-dimethylimidazolidine-2-one, and 1 part oftoluene, 28 parts of 4-ferrocenylaniline was added and the resultantmixture was stirred at 150° C. for 8 hours. The reaction mass was cooledto room temperature, and the precipitated solid matter was filtrated andwashed with water and methanol to obtain 41 parts of a light-yellowsolid matter, which was confirmed as a compound represented by referencenumber D-1 by mass spectrometry.

EXAMPLE 1

On a disk-form substrate made of polycarbonate resin and having an outerdiameter of 120 mmφ and a thickness of 0.6 mm with a continuous guidegroove (track pitch: 0.74 μm) formed therein, a compound represented byreference number B-69 was deposited by vacuum vapor deposition method upto a thickness of 70 nm, thereby forming a recording layer.

On the recording layer, silver was sputtered by use of a sputterapparatus (CDI-900) manufactured by Balzers to obtain a reflecting layer100 nm thick. As a sputter gas, argon gas was used. Sputter wasperformed under the conditions: a sputter power of 2.5 kW and a sputtergas pressure of 1.33 Pa (1.0×10⁻² Torr).

Further on the reflecting layer, an ultraviolet ray curing resin“SD-1700” (manufactured by Dai-Nippon Ink Chemical Industries Co., Ltd.)was spin-coated and thereafter, irradiated with ultraviolet rays toobtain a protecting layer of 5 μm thick. Further on the protectinglayer, an ultraviolet ray curing resin “DeSolite KZ-8681” (manufacturedby JSR Corporation) was spin coated and thereafter a polycarbonate resinsubstrate which was the same as the substrate mentioned above and had noguide groove was mounted. Both substrates were adhered by ultravioletirradiation to form an optical recording medium.

With respect to the optical recording medium having the recording layerformed in the manner mentioned above, the following tests wereperformed.

Recording was performed by an evaluation machine on which a blue laserhead of 403 nm wavelength having a numeric aperture of 0.65 isinstalled, at a recording frequency of 9.7 MHz, a recording laser powerof 8.0 mW, a line speed of 9.0 m/s, and the minimum pit length of 0.30μm. Fine shape pits were regularly formed with a high density. Afterrecording, regeneration was performed by the same evaluation machine ata regeneration laser power of 0.6 mW and a line speed of 9.0 m/s. As aresult, pits were successfully read. Although regeneration wasrepeatedly performed for 1,000 times or more, pits were able to be readout. The disk was excellent in stability to regeneration light. The C/Nratio was 50 dB or more.

Furthermore, a light fastness test was performed by applying a Xe lightof 40,000 lux. Even after 100 hours from start of a test, pits were ableto be read. Assuming that the light absorption amount of a recordinglayer before the test was 100%, the light absorption amount after lightirradiation for 100 hours changed by as low as 10% or less. Good resultswere obtained.

Furthermore, a humidity and heat resistance test was performed byallowing an optical recording medium to stand alone under an atmosphereof 85% RH and 80° C. Even after 100 hours from start of the test, pitwas successfully read.

EXAMPLE 2

An optical recording medium was prepared in the same manner as inExample 1 except that a recording layer was formed by using a compoundrepresented by reference number D-1 in place of a compound representedby reference number B-69 and write and read were performed in the samemanner as in Example 1. As a result, pits of a good shape were formedand successfully read. Stability to regeneration light was excellent andthe C/N ratio was 50 dB or more.

Pits were able to be read after light fastness and humidity and heatresistance were tested.

EXAMPLE 3

An optical recording medium was prepared in the same manner as inExample 1 except that a recording layer was formed by using a compoundrepresented by reference number A-57 in place of a compound representedby reference number B-69 and write and read were performed in the samemanner as in Example 1. As a result, pits of a good shape were formedand successfully read. Stability to regeneration light was excellent andthe C/N ratio was 50 dB or more.

Pits were able to be read after light fastness and humidity and heatresistance were tested.

EXAMPLES 4-317

Optical recording media were prepared in the same manner as in Example 1except that recording layers were formed by using compounds representedby reference numbers A-1 to 56, B-1 to 68, C-1 to 76 and D-2 to 115 inplace of a compound represented by reference number B-69 and write andread were performed in the same manner as in Example 1. As a result,pits of good shapes were formed and read. Stability to regenerationlight was excellent. Pits were able to be read after light fastness andhumidity and heat resistance were tested.

EXAMPLE 318

For a recording layer, 0.2 g of a compound (B-70) listed in Table 1 wasdissolved in 10 ml of 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropanol, to prepare a dyesolution. As a substrate, a disk made of a polycarbonate resin having anouter diameter of 120 mm φ and a thickness of 0.6 mm with a continuousguide groove (track pitch: 0.74 μm) was used. On the substrate, the dyesolution was spin coated at a rotation speed of 1,500 min⁻¹ and dried at70° C. for 3 hours to form a recording layer. On the recording layer,silver was sputtered by using a sputter apparatus (CDI-900) manufacturedby Balzers to obtain a reflecting layer of 100 nm thick. As a sputtergas, argon gas was used. Sputter was performed under the conditions: asputter power of 2.5 kW and a sputter gas pressure of 1.33 Pa (1.0×10⁻²Torr).

Further on the reflecting layer, an ultraviolet ray curing resin“SD-1700” (manufactured by Dai-Nippon Ink Chemical Industries Co., Ltd.)was spin-coated and thereafter, irradiated with ultraviolet rays toobtain a protecting layer of 5 μm thick. Further on the protectinglayer, an ultraviolet ray curing resin “DeSolite KZ-8681” (manufacturedby JSR Corporation) was spin coated and then a polycarbonate resinsubstrate which was the same as the substrate mentioned above and had noguide groove was mounted. Both substrates were adhered by ultravioletirradiation to form an optical recording medium.

Read and write were performed in the same manner as in Example 1. Goodshaped pits were formed and successfully read. Regeneration lightstability was excellent.

Pits were able to be read after light fastness and humidity and heatresistance were tested.

EXAMPLE 319

A recording layer was formed as in Example 318 except for using acompound represented by reference number C-77 in place of a compoundrepresented by reference number B-70. Except for the above, an opticalrecording medium was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, andwrite and read were performed in the same manner as in Example 1. Readand write was performed in the same manner as in Example 1. Pits of agood shaped were formed and successfully read. Stability to regenerationlight was excellent.

Pits were able to be read after light fastness and humidity and heatresistance were tested.

EXAMPLE 320

A recording layer was formed as in Example 318 except for using acompound represented by reference number E-1 in place of a compoundrepresented by reference number B-70. Except for the above, an opticalrecording medium was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, andwrite and read were performed in the same manner as in Example 1. Pitsof a good shape were formed and successfully read. Stability toregeneration light was excellent.

Pits were able to be read after light fastness and humidity and heatresistance were tested.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1

An optical recording medium was prepared in the same manner as inExample 318 except that a compound represented by a formula (a)

was used in place of a compound represented by reference number B-70,and write and read were performed in the same manner as in Example 1. Itwas difficult to read data since the C/N ratio was as low as 20 dB orless.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 2

An optical recording medium was prepared in the same manner as inExample 1 except that a compound represented by a formula (b)

was used in place of a compound represented by reference number B-69,and write and read were performed in the same manner as in Example 1. Asignal ratio decreased, that is, the C/N ratio was as low as 40 dB orless. The C/N ratio of less than 45 dB was a low signal ratio.

As a result of a light fastness test, read becomes difficult after 100hours from initiation of irradiation. Assuming that the light absorptionamount of a recording layer before the test was 100%, the light amountafter 100 hours from light irradiation changed by as large as 70% ormore. A significant deterioration was observed.

As described as in Examples 1 to 320, the optical recording mediumaccording to the present invention is capable of recording andregenerating data in a blue laser wavelength region and has excellentrecording properties.

Form this, a recording layer containing a compound having a structuredefined by the present invention is capable of writing signal data by alaser beam selected from a wavelength region of 300 to 900 nm. Theoptical recording medium of the present invention can be applied to thatusing a laser beam selected from the wavelength region to 300 to 900 nmfor read and write.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an opticalrecording medium, which attracts attention very much as a high-densityrecording medium, capable of recording and regenerating data by a laserhaving a wavelength of 300 to 900 nm, in particular, a bluish-violetlaser having a wavelength of 400 to 410 nm.

1. An optical recording medium containing at least one imide compoundhaving a quinazoline-4-on residue represented by a general formula (9)as one of tautomeric structures:

wherein a ring AR⁴ represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromaticring residue or a residue formed by combining two or more aromatic ringresidues via one or more linking groups; R⁹ represents hydrogen,substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyl, or substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring; R⁹⁰¹ to R⁹⁰⁴each independently represent a hydrogen or halogen atom; a groupselected from nitro, cyano, hydroxyl, mercapto, carboxyl, substituted orunsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, substitutedor unsubstituted aromatic ring, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedaryloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted orunsubstituted aralkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio,substituted or unsubstituted amino, substituted or unsubstituted acyl,substituted or unsubstituted acyloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedalkoxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted alkenyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaminocarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl, substituted orunsubstituted alkenyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkenylthio,substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstitutedheteroaryloxy, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxycarbonyl,heteroarylthio, or substituted or unsubstituted metallocenyl; or, in acombination of R⁹⁰¹ to R⁹⁰⁴, two or more substituents selected from thecombination may independently combine via a linking group to form acyclic structure together with carbon atoms to which they are attached;and R⁹¹ represents a group in which a substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocenyl group bonds to the nitrogen atom of the imide group via abivalent linking group composed of at least one selected from asubstituted or unsubstituted bivalent aromatic ring.
 2. The opticalreading medium according to claim 1, wherein the imide compound having aquinazoline-4-on residue is represented by a general formula (10) as oneof the tautomeric structures:

wherein R¹⁰⁰ represents hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl or substituted or unsubstitutedaromatic ring; R¹⁰¹ to R¹¹¹ each independently represent a hydrogen orhalogen atom; a group selected from nitro, cyano, hydroxyl, mercapto,carboxyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring,substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy, substituted orunsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted aralkylthio,substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, substituted or unsubstitutedamino, substituted or unsubstituted acyl, substituted or unsubstitutedacyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsu bstituted alkenyloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted aminocarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxy, substituted orunsubstituted alkenylthio, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl,substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedheteroaryloxycarbonyl, heteroarylthio, or substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocenyl; or, in a combination of R¹⁰¹ to R¹⁰⁵, and/or a combinationof R¹⁰⁶ to R¹⁰⁹, two or more substituents selected from each of thecombinations may independently combine via a linking group in the samecombination to form a cyclic structure together with carbon atoms towhich they are attached, with the proviso that any one or more groupsselected from R¹⁰¹ to R¹⁰⁵ represent substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocenyl groups.
 3. The optical recording medium according to claim1, wherein the imide compound having a quinazoline-4-on residue isrepresented by a general formula (11) as one of tautomeric structures:

wherein R²⁰⁰ represents hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl,substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, or substituted or unsubstitutedaromatic ring; R²⁰¹ to R²¹³ each independently represent a hydrogen orhalogen atom; a group selected from nitro, cyano, hydroxyl, mercapto,carboxyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring,substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstitutedaralkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy, substituted orunsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted aralkylthio,substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, substituted or unsubstitutedamino, substituted or unsubstituted acyl, substituted or unsubstitutedacyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl, substituted orunsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedaryloxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxycarbonyl,substituted or unsubstituted aminocarbonyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyloxy, substituted orunsubstituted alkenylthio, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl,substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryloxy, substituted or unsubstitutedheteroaryloxycarbonyl, heteroarylthio, or substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocenyl; or, in a combination of R²⁰¹ to R²⁰⁵, and/or a combinationof R²⁰⁶ to R²⁰⁹, and/or a combination of R²¹⁰ to R²¹¹, and/or acombination of R²¹² to R²¹³, two or more substituents selected from eachof the combinations may independently combine via a linking group in thesame combination to form a cyclic structure together with carbon atomsto which they are attached, with the proviso that any one or more groupsselected from R²⁰¹ to R²⁰⁵ represent substituted or unsubstitutedmetallocenyl groups.